A Study On ROK’s Mediation Role In The New Development Of DPRK-US Relations

Mediation is an ancient topic.Although mediation is very common,there is still room for further improvement in the theoretical study of mediation.Through empirical research,scholars such as Jacob Bercovitch and Qi Haixia have summarized the factors affecting the effectiveness of mediation from three aspects,including the identity of conflict opponent’s identity,conflict characteristics and mediator characteristics.Furthermore they have divided the mediation strategy into communication-facilitation strategy,procedural strategy and directive strategy,explored the caucusing and joint mediation pattern,then built the contingency model of mediation.ROK’s mediation has played an extremely important role in the development of DPRK-US relations since 2018.ROK’s mediation diplomacy is a very obvious feature of the development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula in this period,which plays an important role in the current studies on the Peninsula.Although ROK’s mediation is faced with certain difficulties,it has an obvious effect on the development of DPRK-US relations by grasping the situation and conducting its mediation,especially in the revival of the first Kim-Trump Summit,so ROK even calls itself“the peninsula pilot”.However,with the failure of the second Kim-Trump Summit,ROK’s mediation role has weakened.The core issue of the conflict between DPRK and the US is non-ideological,which determines that there is still room for ROK to mediate successfully.Besides,there is a large power gap and political regime difference between DPRK and the US,which makes it more difficult for ROK to mediate.Factors such as the complicated conflict between DPRK and the US,the not-on-track denuclearization dialogue between DPRK and the US,and the absence of solution to the conflict between the two sides have also become obstacles for ROK to mediate between DPRK and the US.As a mediator,ROK itself does not have the final say,besides the power and status gap also prevents it from confronting the US.On the whole,ROK’s mediation is still in the initial stage.ROK’s mediation has three positive functions,such as serving as a messenger between the DPRK and the US,easing the distrust between DPRK and the US,and improving the status and voice of ROK in the Korean Peninsula issue.Meanwhile,thereare two limitations for ROK’s mediation,namely less leeway and inability to control the final decision.ROK is not the decisive factor influencing the mediation between the DPRK and the US,after all,the two countries themselves are the main actors in their bilateral relations.The resolution of DPRK-US conflict and the development of DPRK-US relations ultimately depend on the promotion and cooperation of the two countries themselves.Therefore,ROK needs to see its status and role realistically,and it is necessary for ROK to fully cooperate with major region powers and follow the mediation path of "firstly caucusing and then joint" to form the resultant force of mediation,which leads to the success of mediation between DPRK and the US.