Unlocking Russian Interests on the Korean Peninsula
Bauer, John W.
Parameters, Summer 2009, v34, #2, pp52-62
"The close relationship that once existed between Moscow and Pyongyang
is a relic of the Cold War. In fact, there is reason to believe that the two neighbors now share little in common. Yet decades ago, the Soviets
exercised tremendous influence over the North Korean regime, anecdotally
evidenced by Kim Il-sung’s fateful request to Josef Stalin asking to invade the South in 1950. Stalin, after much consternation, finally gave his approval. By deferring to Stalin, Kim Il-sung sought continued Soviet
support, which he received for roughly 40 years until the breakup of the Soviet Union. In the early 1990s, however, this partnership changed significantly. Russia’s national interests have conspicuously drifted since then, favoring South Korea over the North. What has caused the shift in Moscow’s attention south from Pyongyang to Seoul, and what are the strategic consequences of this development in light of South Korea’s goal to one day reunify the peninsula?"
Major John Bauer is a strategist for Special Operations Command Korea and has served tours with special operations units in Afghanistan and the Philippines. He is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy, Army Command and General Staff College, and School of Advanced Military Studies.
Go to the
article at:
http://www.carlisle.army.mil/USAWC/Parameters/09summer/bauer.pdf
A44/04-09. Posted August 27, 2009
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