South Korea's Participation in the SDI

Abstract

This article illuminates a serious concern about South Korea's participation in the Strategic Defense Initiative. There is a perception that it may adversely affect the strategic environment in Northeast Asia, in which a most precarious military balance is maintained. The author advises that the Republic of Korea's participation might destabilize the area. Also, it is in South Korea's security interests not to aggravate the Soviet Union, which is most likely to use its proxy, North Korea, to disturb this region. The author proposes that South Korea should participate in a regional version of SDI-a Northeast Asian defense initiative (NADI) initiated by Japan-as an alternative to its commitment to the U.S. SDI. Since Japan is a nonnuclear weapons state, Moscow may accept a Japanled NADI as a genuine defensive system.