ABSTRACT
National security and the security of the ruling dynasty were its only foreign policy concerns. International perception of each Korean state is a contributing factor to national security, since the perception would affect international attitudes in the event of renewed hostilities. Japan looms large in north Korea's foreign relations for reasons of history, geopolitics, and economic opportunity. National security, economic progress and trade, and enhancement of legitimacy and prestige are the basic themes of south Korean foreign policy. The Republic's foreign policy is characterized by caution, preservation of established relationships, and incremental improvement, rather than innovation. North Korea's foreign economic policy has two basic themes: self-reliance and support for economic development. South Korea's quest for international recognition supports its security and economic concerns. The United States remains the central concern of Korean diplomacy because of the United States role in Korean national security and its importance as a market and source of investment capital.
