탈냉전 이후 한국의 민주주의는 냉전의 적대적 대결관계 약화, 민족화해의 진전 및 상호 인정과 관용의 정치문화가 확산되면서 한 단계 발전할 수 있게 되었다. 그러나 한반도 평화는 완성되지 못했고 답보상태였다. 따라서 한반도 평화체제가 온전히 정착되어야 탈냉전이 완성될 수 있고 이는 곧 확장된 한반도 평화의 제도화를 통해 한반도 민주주의가 완성될 수 있음을 의미한다. 한반도 평화체제의 과제로는 동북아 차원의 냉전 유제인 북핵문제를 해결하는 것과 한반도 차원에서 정치적 화해협력과 군사적 신뢰구축을 진전시키는 것 그리고 대내적 차원에서 북의 선군주의와 남의 반북주의 및 안보이데올로기를 극복하는 것이다. 한반도 평화체제는 단지 군사적 측면에서가 아니라 남북관계 개선과 민족화해의 증진이라는 핵심 요인을 통해 진전되고 촉진되고 구축되는 것이어야 한다. 한반도 평화의 핵심으로서 남북관계가 질적으로 개선 발전되면 북핵 해결을 통해 북미관계가 개선되고 이는 곧 북한 내 선군주의와 반미주의가 약화되고 한국 역시 남북의 적대관계 해소를 통해 남남갈등과 반북주의가 약화되면서 민주주의가 공고화될 수 있을 것이다. 즉 평화가 민주주의인 것이다. 민주주의 체제가 전쟁을 피하고 평화를 보장하듯이 한반도 평화가 역으로 한반도의 민주주의를 진전시키고 공고화시키는 셈이다. 천안함 이후 한반도 정세는 남북관계 경색이 한반도 평화를 위협하고 다시 한반도 긴장고조가 민주주의를 위협할 수 있음을 적나라하게 보여준다. 탈냉전의 완성으로서 한반도 평화체제가 자리매김되고 다시 되돌이킬 수 없는 화해와 협력의 남북관계가 한반도 평화의 핵심임을 전제로 한국의 민주주의는 한 단계 발전할 수 있을 것이다.

Since the Cold War, democracy in South Korea was able to make a progress with the weakening of confrontations and proliferation of political culture that acknowledged the progress of national reconciliation and mutual understanding. However, peace on the Korean peninsula was still at a standstill. This signifies that peace regime in the Korean peninsula must be established to conclude the Cold War and to realize democracy in South Korea. Major tasks for the peace regime in the region involves the resolution of North Korean nuclear issue, political reconciliation and military trust-building, and overcoming the conflicting ideological differences between the songun politics of the North and anti-North Koreanism of the South, as well as security ideology. Peace regime on the Korean peninsula must be pursued not only from the military standpoint but should move forward with emphasis on improving inter-Korean relations and national reconciliation. As the core constituent of the peace on the Korean peninsula, inter-Korean relations is the key to improving the US-DPRK relations through resolving the nuclear dilemma. This in result will weaken the songun politics and anti-Americanism within North Korea as well as decrease the domestic political strife and anti-North Koreanism within South Korea, and bolster democracy. In other words, peace is democracy. Through democratic system, war can be prevented and peace be guaranteed. Likewise, peace on the Korean peninsula is promoting and advancing democracy on the peninsula. Cheonan incident was a clear illustration of demonstrating how insecure inter-Korean relations can threaten the peace and democracy in the peninsula. With the establishment of peace regime on the Korean peninsula can return to the relationship of reconciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas, which in effect will also bring out positive development of democracy in South Korea.

Since the Cold War, democracy in South Korea was able to make a progress with the weakening of confrontations and proliferation of political culture that acknowledged the progress of national reconciliation and mutual understanding. However, peace on the Korean peninsula was still at a standstill. This signifies that peace regime in the Korean peninsula must be established to conclude the Cold War and to realize democracy in South Korea. Major tasks for the peace regime in the region involves the resolution of North Korean nuclear issue, political reconciliation and military trust-building, and overcoming the conflicting ideological differences between the songun politics of the North and anti-North Koreanism of the South, as well as security ideology. Peace regime on the Korean peninsula must be pursued not only from the military standpoint but should move forward with emphasis on improving inter-Korean relations and national reconciliation. As the core constituent of the peace on the Korean peninsula, inter-Korean relations is the key to improving the US-DPRK relations through resolving the nuclear dilemma. This in result will weaken the songun politics and anti-Americanism within North Korea as well as decrease the domestic political strife and anti-North Koreanism within South Korea, and bolster democracy. In other words, peace is democracy. Through democratic system, war can be prevented and peace be guaranteed. Likewise, peace on the Korean peninsula is promoting and advancing democracy on the peninsula. Cheonan incident was a clear illustration of demonstrating how insecure inter-Korean relations can threaten the peace and democracy in the peninsula. With the establishment of peace regime on the Korean peninsula can return to the relationship of reconciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas, which in effect will also bring out positive development of democracy in South Korea.

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post cold-war, peace regime, enlarged peace, inter-Korean relation, democratic peace