Sacrificing the Joker: An Analysis of the Roh Tae Woo Administration's Preemptive Decision to Remove US Tactical Nuclear Weapons

US Tactical Nuclear Weapons;Preemptive Declaration;Denuclearization;Nuclear Umbrella;Active Agent;미국 전술 핵;선제적 선언;비핵화;핵우산;능동적 행위자

국제대학원 국제학과(국제협력전공) ;

University:서울대학교 대학원

关键词: US Tactical Nuclear Weapons;    Preemptive Declaration;    Denuclearization;    Nuclear Umbrella;    Active Agent;    미국 전술 핵;    선제적 선언;    비핵화;    핵우산;    능동적 행위자;   

Others  :  http://s-space.snu.ac.kr/bitstream/10371/129188/1/000000004536.pdf

美国|英语

来源: Seoul National University Open Repository

【 摘 要 】

President Roh Tae Woo declared in 1991 that South Korea no longer possessed US tactical nuclear weapons. That he declared this move preemptively, prior to the United States, is the puzzle that is tackled by this thesis. This thesis is an attempt to look beyond the conventional view that South Korea was pressured to do so by the US or that Roh’s decision was an effort to denuclearize North Korea.This thesis hypothesizes that domestic politics and US commitment to provide South Korea with a continued nuclear umbrella coverage through alternative means were equally important factors. This thesis uses the Information Processing Framework as an analytical tool, which views a policy maker as an active agent and problem solver in his operational milieu. Roh’s operational milieu consisted of US Nuclear Policy, the North Korean Challenge and Domestic Politics that he had to cope with. All three levels of analysis are required to fully explain Roh’s preemptive decision. The prospect of impending new US nuclear policy compelled Roh to act. But to act preemptively and forgo US tactical nuclear weapons was Roh’s choice as an active agent. By choosing to act preemptively, Roh also aimed to establish himself as an autonomous, independent and nationalistic leader. This posture was effective in inducing North Korea to have direct talks with South Korea. His preemptive decision also helped him to nip in the bud a potentially explosive domestic issue, i.e., nuclear weapons in South Korea in view of anti-US and anti-nuclear sentiments in the Korean public including vocal, anti-government student demonstrators. Roh made a preemptive move in return for, among others, US commitment to a continued nuclear umbrella coverage for South Korea. Roh’s preemptive decision was compatible with the US position and taken after a year of prior, informal consultations with US.