The State of Research on Inter-Korean Relations Based on KJIR and KJIS Articles

Abstract

have appeared in KJIR (Korean Journal of International Relations) and KJIS (Korean Journal of International Studies) since 2001. KJIR and KJIS contributors for the last sixteen years have been at the forefront of vigorously spreading knowledge on inter-Korean relations. Increasingly, we are witnessing the advance of articles that are empirically sound, methodologically sophisticated, and theoretically profound. Thanks to authors hard work, we now know more about our subfield than ever before. The authors have covered issues of engagement, conflict behavior and nuclear adventures, stable peace, human rights and humanitarian assistance, and nationalism and unification. I review KJIR and KJIS articles in turn along their themes and conclude by identifying future tasks for Korean Studies scholars. Through developing and trying to solve common puzzles, we may expect to come up with not only continued accumulation of knowledge but also creation of new vocabularies and theories in inter-Korean relations. With the current state of our subfield being what it is, it will not be long before we witness the rise of creative and innovative works solving the great puzzles in our research probes. Special Section Commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Korean Association of International Studies (KAIS)