The Role of the Russian Far East in Relations Development with DPRK
This work was supported by the Core University Program for Korean Studies throughthe Ministry of Education of the Republic of the Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2015- OLU-2250003)Russia sees itself and wants to be seen as a great Eurasian power playing a major role in East Asia. The Russian foreign policy has considered proclamation of «New East Policy» that emphasizes effective relation with Asia-Pacific countries. Dealing with the DPRK is perhaps one of the problematical challenges in the Russian foreign policy. Russia emphasizes the need to engage the DPRK neither because this causes any kind of feelings, nor because this country is an important partner for Russia’s advancement in the region, but because that is essential for maintaining security in Northeast Asia. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of re- warming of the Russia-DPRK relationship and to present an overview of the Russian Far East cooperation with North Korea. Russia’s «turn to the East» policy has progressed in two related directions - establishment of cooperation with East Asian countries and development of the Russian Far East. The Russian Far East has a chance to be in the right place at the current time of the improvement of Russian-North Korean relations. The paper makes the case on how the Russian Far East is getting more attention from the Russian government to implement Russia’s «turn to the East» policy.