The recent security environment in the Indo-Pacific region is facing additional variables beyond the existing competition for hegemony between the United States and China. These variables include North Korea’s declaration of a complete change in its policy toward South Korea, its continued strengthening of military power including nuclear weapons, and the direction of the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Given this context, South Korea needs to closely monitor the U.S.-China hegemonic competition and changes in the security environment in the Indo-Pacific region. Based on clearly established national goals, South Korea must establish a hierarchy of national interests, make strategic trade-offs, and secure and enhance the diversity and flexibility of South Korea’s foreign policy strategies. In addition, South Korea should develop response strategies for various future scenarios in the Indo-Pacific region, such as the continuation of U.S. hegemony, U.S.-China conflict, and the restoration of U.S.-China cooperation. Regardless of how the security landscape and environment in the Indo-Pacific region change and how North Korea’s policy toward the South unfolds, South Korea must actively work on strengthening its self-defense capabilities and developing alternatives to realize the U.S. extended deterrence commitment.

This article is an English Summary of Asan Issue Brief (2024-12).

(‘최근 인도-태평양 지역 안보 환경 평가와 함의’)