| Publication |
2013.
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| Summary/Abstract |
The year 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the ROK-U.S. alliance. The catchphrase "We go together," which is used in the ROK/U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), well captures its founding spirit. Since the beginning of the alliance, with the signing of the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty in 1953, it has been a key element in both countries' security strategies. Both have agreed to upgrade the alliance to "strategic alliance." To realize a strategic alliance, clear guidelines that go beyond simple rhetoric must be adopted and an action plan devised through intense discussions. For that purpose, it is essential for South Korea and the United States to undergo a bottom-up review process of the alliance. It is important to pay careful attention to: identification of challenges the two must cope with together (for what); the division of labor (who should do what); plans and strategy (how); and cooperation mechanisms (through what). Along these lines, it is important to think about how to enrich the contents of military cooperation as the backbone of the alliance. To avoid any misunderstanding and over-expectations of the United States, South Korea must make it clear what it can and cannot do on the basis of undiminished mutual respect.
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