Problems of energy cooperation on Korean peninsula in terms of regional security threats

• Candidate of Political Sciences, Associate Professor of the Chair of Management; е-mail: golobokov_as@mail.ru
  Vladivostok State University of Economics and Service
  Vladivostok. Russia

• Sergeeva V.I.

  trainee; е-mail: shkolnay-96@mail.ru
  Vladivostok Innovations Educational Centre
  Vladivostok. Russia

• Ponomareva P.A.

  trainee; е-mail: ponomarevapolina96@mail.ru
  Vladivostok Innovations Educational Centre
  Vladivostok. Russia

The paper reviews various features of energy cooperation between Russia, North Korea and South Korea in terms of deteriorating international relations in East Asia and regional security threats related to the difficulties of inter-Korean dialogue. The goal is to analyze the dynamics of energy cooperation development in the Russia –  North Korea –  South Korea triangle, the interests of the participants and the prospects of energy cooperation considering tense relations between the states. The research is topical because of the comprehensive assessment ambiguity of political and energy imbalance in Northeast Asia, the countries’ positions in relation to the draft of the international gas pipeline issues to be an obstacle to the full energy cooperation between Russia, North and South Korea on the international level. Multiple-factor analysis of the foreign policy of the Asia-Pacific countries (Russia, South Korea, China, North Korea and the United States) within the energy cooperation and prospects for maintaining energy security and the strategic balance in the region proposed. The conclusion is made, that stimulation of the energy dialogue on the Korean Peninsula will contribute to the creation of new transport communications; encourage the exchange of different resources between three countries will strengthen security in Northeast Asia and to some extent reduce the tensions in the border region. The significance of the work is in analysis of the approaches of Russian and foreign authors to the issue of energy cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. Results from this study could be useful for policymakers, diplomats and lecturers, as they work to create a security model in the Asia-Pacific region.

Keywords: Asia-Pacific, strategic partnership, economic development, energy cooperation, Asian-Pacific region, Russia, South Korea, North Korea, regional security, trans-Korean dialogue, North-East Asia, gas pipeline.