Moscow, Russia—A UPF webinar explored the possibilities of Russia’s relations with its neighbors on the Korean Peninsula.
The online program "Prospects for the Development of Russia's Relations with the Countries of the Korean Peninsula" was held on April 19, 2023, by the Russian chapter of UPF’s International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP).
The program, which was broadcast in the Russian language on Youtube, VKontakte and Odnoklassniki social networks to the nations of the former Soviet Union, has collected 33,000 views.
The speakers at the webinar were:
Dr. Valery Timoshenko, head of the Department of Russian and World History, Pacific National University, Khabarovsk; director of the Center for the Study of International Relations in the Asia-Pacific Region, Khabarovsk;
Dr. Alexander Ivanov, associate professor of the Department of Oriental Languages of the Pedagogical Institute of Pacific National University, Khabarovsk.
The moderator was Maria Nazarova, president of UPF-Russia.
These are some of the questions that were discussed:
- Has the Russian Federation’s policy of so-called "pivot to the East" affected the relations between Russia and the countries of the Korean Peninsula?
- In today's geopolitical realities, how are things going with the prospect of a peaceful reunification of North and South Korea, because this also concerns Russia's security on its eastern borders?
- From the point of view of mentality, which nations are closer to Russia: those of the East or the West?
- What is happening in relations between Russia and the Republic of Korea?
- The current government of South Korea’s president has an unequivocal policy of strengthening ties with the United States and Japan. Does this mean that the country is turning its back on Russia? Or is everything not so clear?
- There is a US-UK-Australian military alliance (AUKUS) and a Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (“The Quad”) between Australia, India, the United States and Japan. Is there a possibility of South Korea joining these unions, and to what consequences can this lead in the whole Pacific region?
- If the confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan enters a hot phase, how will the DPRK and South Korea react?
Have Covid-related restrictions been lifted in the DPRK? What is happening now with the work of the Russian and other embassies in the DPRK?