ABSTRACT

The primary arena for international competition between the two Koreas has been in their relations with the big powers. These have been the relations that counted, in terms of security, economic development, and diplomatic support. Relations with the other countries of the world have been of secondary importance. During its early years, the Republic of Korea (ROK) held a substantial advantage over the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in establishing its legitimacy in the community of nations. The UN had observed the elections that established the ROK government, had attested to the validity of those elections, and had declared the ROK government to be "a lawful government" over that part of Korea to which the UN Temporary Commission had had access. Despite its sponsorship by the United Nations, the ROK had won diplomatic recognition from six countries when the Korean War broke out: the United States, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, and Spain.