Dr. Malik Hasan, Ph.D IR
South Korea is an East Asian country encompassing an area of 100,210 sq. km is geo-politically located on Southern half Korean peninsula having 3,358 islands in south including Jeju Island.It is considered as an island nation as its only land link is with its arch nuclear rival; North Korea In its north. It is bounded by Yellow Sea, Sea of Japan and East China in ease, west and south respectively.South Korea is between regional powers like China, Russia and Japan that are already asserting to influence the global and regional politico-economic mosaic which has transformed South Korea in to economico-military battle ground primarily between Washington and Beijing.It is pertinent to comprehend that Pakistan being a geo-political manoeuvre space between China, Central Asia, Europe and Africa has also suffered the scars of Cold War and is still sacrificing between Washington and Beijing. It is pertinent to understand that unlike South Korea,Pakistan could notmaintain the balance tofind the opportunities out of the battle grounds. While being involved in the wars of others Islamabad had to assert much more for continuality of its policies thus could not capitalize its geo-political manoeuvre space hence it will be vital for Islamabad to accrue benefits from China and US.
South Korean security concerns are primarily based on North Korean nuclear and ballistic missiledevelopments. Apart from these concerns there are maritime security challenges for Republic of Korea (ROK). ROK is practically an island having 2,400 kms long coastlinewith fifty percent of its trade conducted through sea hencecompelling ROK to safe guard its sea lines of communications (SLOCs). South Koreanmaritime dispute with North Korea in the Yellow Sea is Northern Limit Line which was drawn after Korean War armistice. North Korea insisted on 12 NMdeep territorial seas while ROK maintains it only to be 3 NM.
Riddle of Beijing and Seoul relations is getting complex as Seoul’s trade with Beijing only is more than its combined trade with the United States and Japan. Nevertheless, Seoul is wary of Chinese any maritime clash, particularly due to unresolved demarcation line along 124-degree east longitude in Yellow Sea. Both countries declared a 200 NM ofExclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)thatensued in a significant overlap. ROK maintains that the boundary should be determined by the median line principle while China argues that the line should be proportional to Chinese larger population and longer coastline.However despite conflict both have managed fishing through of temporary measures. Beijing’s increasingnaval presence in Yellow Sea is restricting ROK, that has asserted jurisdiction over Socotra Rock by constructing Ieodo Ocean Research Station. However Beijing considers it illegal as the reef falls within their disputed EEZ.
ROK-Japan relations are at their lowest point in yearsdue to maritime dispute over a group of islets, including Liancourt, Ieodo, Parangdo and Suyan Rocks.It is imperative to note that despite multi-dimensional conflicts ROK is maintaining impressive trade and economic relations with Japan due to a merited and sincere hedging policy, which should also be followed by Islamabad to strengthen its economy by balancing its relations with China and US.
Despite its trade dependency on Beijing, Seoul has joined NATO’s Cyber Defence Group in May 2022 and has also attended NATO Summit in Madrid from 28th to 30th June2022. ROK has also ventured to be part of US led anti-China Indo Pacific Economic Forum on 23 May 2022. All such diplomatic advancements aim at expanding engagement between Seoul and QUAD nations against Beijing. In pursuance to its New North Policy Seoul is concentrating on China, Russia and Central Asian Republics to advance its diplo-economic interests. Emerging defence relations with India and US once USA has already deployed 28,000 troops and much US desired Jeju Civilian-Military Complex Port has already been operational since 26 Feb 2016;ROK has adopted a New South Policy to add India in to its ASEAN allies.Hence it is vital for Islamabad also to enhance and deepen its diplomatic influence pragmatically, sincerely and continuously despite its diplo-economic limitations.
With foreign reserves of 446 billion USD and China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and Vietnam as major trade partners, ROK’s economic freedom score is 74.6makes its economy 19th freest in the 2022 Index and is ranked 5th among 39 countries in the Asia–Pacific region. Its industrymainly includes electronics, automobiles, telecommunications, shipbuilding, and chemicals, steel. During 2020, ROK’s exported of machines, chemical products, instruments worth 97.7 billion USD and importedintegrated circuits, broadcasting equipment and computers worth 110 billion USD.During same year,ROK exportedtransportation equipment, chemical products and metals worth 736 million USD to Pakistan andimported textiles, mineral products and foodstuffs worth 192.6 million USD from Pakistan.
South Korea and Pakistan have joined hands in ventures such as Kia and Hyundai vehicles as well as Samsung mobile phones. In hydropower sector, two plants are already operating and providing electricity in Pakistan and four projects worth 3 billion USD are under way in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) has provided a loan worth 500 million USD for road construction and IT centers in Islamabad and Karachi. However from 2022 onwards EDCF loan to Pakistan will be increased to 1 billion USD for five years hence enhancing cooperation in infra-business networking.It is imperative that with just 10 billion USD as foreign reserves Islamabad should convince Seoul to make investments in its Special Economic Zones.
Considering the geo-political commonalities and Pakistan’s need to improve its dipo-economic facets it imperative to sincerely adopt the politico-economic policies of ROKas despite its regional conflicts, extra regional pressures and limitations ROK is advancing its diplomatic relations and economy. While considering the facet of aging population in ROK which has transformed it in to a Super Aged Society with approximately 20 per cent of population above 65 years of age Islamabad should prepare skilled work force for provision ROK. Islamabad should also offer Buddhist Tourism packages to Korean nationals for visit of Ghandhara Civilisation with a view to vitalise people to people diplomacy. Korean pop music is getting popular among Pakistanis hence a thoughtful and a continuous cultural exchange programme be implemented. Finally Islamabad should implement unprecedented ease of doing business policiesto attract FDI. Pakistan and ROK can also collaborate to fight the menace of terrorism.
The writer is Fellow Research Member with Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transportation (UK)