Kyungnam University Institute for Far Eastern Studies Holds 20th Samcheong Forum

"The New Maritime Cold War: Changes in Asia-Pacific Maritime Strategies and Security on the Korean Peninsula"

The Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University held the 20th Samcheong Forum in the Grand Conference Room of the Peace Hall, under the theme "The New Maritime Cold War: Changes in Asia-Pacific Maritime Strategies and Security on the Korean Peninsula."

The forum, held on June 9, was organized to provide an in-depth analysis of the maritime power buildup by the United States and Japan, as well as the increasingly close strategic partnership between China and Russia. Lyle Goldstein, Senior Research Fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at Brown University, and Vitaly Kozyrev, Chair Professor of Political Science and International Studies at Endicott College, participated as presenters.

Panoramic view of the 20th Samcheong Forum.
[Photo provided by Kyungnam University]

As the first presenter, Senior Research Fellow Goldstein defined the China-Russia partnership as a powerful "quasi-alliance." Regarding the two countries' maritime cooperation, he analyzed that "the new focus will be on undersea warfare and the Arctic." He particularly noted, "Traces of Russian design are evident in China's new submarines," highlighting the deepening of technological exchanges in undersea capabilities. He further warned that this cohesion "could lead to a dangerous dynamic of arms competition."

Goldstein also focused on South Korea's independent diplomatic space within the new Cold War framework. He stated, "South Korea has long maintained good relations with both China and Russia, and it can play a greater role as a bridge or mediator in mitigating the new Cold War." He emphasized that South Korea, having maintained friendly relations with both countries, should utilize this diplomatic asset—distinguishing itself from Japan—to carve out its own path.

The second presenter, Chair Professor Kozyrev, diagnosed that China and Russia are approaching the Korean Peninsula issue not as a one-off matter, but within a broader structure of great power rivalry. Professor Kozyrev explained, "China-Russia cooperation is approached structurally rather than issue by issue," and analyzed that the North Korean nuclear issue is also "part of the broader picture of hegemonic competition between great powers."

He went on to explain, "The strengthening of North Korea's status is not because China and Russia are acting in line with North Korea, but rather, it is about socializing North Korea and steering it toward becoming a normal state." He stated that instead of further isolating North Korea, China and Russia are implementing a "socialization" strategy to transform North Korea into a normal actor within the Eurasian system. As examples, he cited efforts to encourage North Korea to build better relations with Belarus, or to participate in new cooperative frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and BRICS Plus (BRICS+).

Professor Kozyrev also pointed out that the analysis that China would be uncomfortable with the deepening North Korea-Russia partnership is a "misjudgment." He stated, "Western claims that China is concerned about a strengthened North Korea-Russia military alliance are mistaken and misleading." He explained that the main objective for China and Russia is to change the environment of U.S. hegemony through engagement with the Global South, and to pressure the United States to accept the new rules of the game.

Additionally, he noted that "Russia has experienced through the Ukraine war that merely possessing nuclear weapons does not guarantee security," adding that "Russia is closely studying China's serious approach of stockpiling strategic materials and constructing underground facilities to thoroughly prepare for potential U.S. strikes."

Following the presentations, there was a deep and substantive Q&A session with experts.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.