In Search of Prestige and a Lost Position: Russia’s Policy in the Korean Policy

Since the fall of the USSR, Russia has been trying to improve its position in the Korean Peninsula. In the 1990s this ended in almost total failure. Only in the 2000s did one see an improvement in Russia’s position: Moscow was able to balance its position in the Peninsula, achieve good relations with both Koreas and was invited to Six-Party Talks. Unfortunately, these beneficial circumstances did not last long. Since then Russia has been a rather non- active international player in the Peninsula, which has usually been bound up to Chinese actions. Hence, despite the ups and downs, Russia’s position since 1991 has been quite constant – that of a secondary great power in Korea.