"A shrimp among the
whales” described Korea’s position in East Asia, especially being caught between 2 East Asian power - China and Japan. To survive, the Koreans
relied on diplomacy by courting the immediate and closest power - China. Such became the cornerstone of Korea’s centuries-old doctrine
known as Sadae (Attendance to the Great).
Pages
▼
Nordpolitik: Engaging with the Communist Bloc
Nordpolitik or Northern
Policy defined the Republic of Korea's foreign policy towards the communist countries by then-President Roh Tae Woo. With the Détente of the 1970s, The Republic of Korea transitioned from diplomacy based on ideology to one
based on practicality and tolerance paving the way for the expansion of the East Asian country's global presence. Strategically, it also intended to isolate
the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) or at the very
least, bring them to the negotiation table.