North Korea and Green Diplomacy -- An Opportunity for Peace Building?
Publisher: Environmental Law and Policy
Author(s): Saleem Ali and Rakhyun E. Kim
Date: 2016
Topics: Cooperation, Governance, Land, Renewable Resources
Countries: China, North Korea, Russian Federation, South Korea
International environmental agreements have historically been considered to be in the realm of “low politics”, disconnected from the “high politics” of war and peace. There is growing evidence, however, suggesting that, if the issues are framed appropriately with a scientific exchange, and mediation, ecological factors can foster cooperation between perceived adversaries. Multilateral environmental mechanisms thus deserve further study in the context of regimes that have otherwise appeared resistant to, or reticent in, cooperating on issuesof high politics. Although they might not lead to a full resolution of extant conflicts, such issues might provide an opportunity to understand part of the executive’s decision-making processes in isolated States, and possibly indicate ways in which environmental diplomacy could pave the way for broader engagement in international dispute resolution