Reagan Faces Korea: Alliance Politics And Quiet Diplomacy
by Chae-Jin Lee /
2020 / English / PDF
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This is a unique and definitive study to reassess the complex dynamics of US-Korea diplomatic relations during the Reagan presidency. It examines the goals, methods, and legacy of Reagans policy toward Korea with emphasis on the realities of alliance politics and the tactics of quiet diplomacy. It questions a widely held view that Reagan showed simplistic, inattentive, and rigid approaches toward foreign affairs, but argues that his actual policy, as demonstrated in the Korea case, was more sophisticated, nuanced, and pragmatic than commonly assumed. The author sheds new light on Reagans role in promoting democratization in South Korea, exploring engagement toward North Korea, and saving Kim Dae Jungs life and protecting his exile in America. The book is based on a vast amount of confidential diplomatic documents, especially in Korean, and a large number of interviews that the author has conducted with US and Korean leaders over the years.
