KEI Spotlight

December 16, 2011 – Security Advisor Abraham Denmark discussed his Academic Paper Series report, "Proactive Deterrence: The Challenge of Escalation Control on the Korean Peninsula," which focused on some of the issues involved with preemptive self-defense and proactive deterrence by South Korea. In addition, Mr. Denmark presented possible policies for South Korea and the United States that could mitigate  the potential for accidental escalation while sustaining deterrence over North Korea. 

After the attacks last year by North Korea on the Cheonan and Yeonpyeong Island, the difficult debates continue over the best way South Korea should respond to these types of strikes by North Korea and on ways to deter them in the future. Fears arise that miscalculating the response to North Korean aggression could quickly escalate into war.  

And even though South Korea and the U.S., along with other allies, would likely be able to defend South Korea and eventually reunify the Korean peninsula through force, the outbreak of war will likely have huge human, economic, and developmental costs for South Korea. Thus, proper deterrence mechanisms and response procedures are needed.