Suslina, Svetlana S

Abstract
The article presents an attempt to objectively evaluate the present potential for bilateral economic cooperation between Russia and South Korea by means of a comparative examination of the macroeconomic structure of the current state of both countries’ economies, while at the same time highlighting the priorities of state policy for economic progress, and defining the operational factors for the harmonization of economic interests in order to help resolve potential conflicts. The paper analyzes the current progress of trade and economic turnover, its prospects for the near, mid-term and long-run perspective. The study uncovers the uneasy ongoing problems that could impede progress towards closer economic cooperation between the two countries in the future. Though the macro-economic parameters and scenarios of economic growth until and after 2010 are generally in favor of growing opportunities for further economic cooperation between the two countries, an emerging imbalance in respective economic priorities is giving rise to a progressive incompatibility between the two economies. While from the short-term perspective prospects for dynamic economic cooperation appear bright, the growing conflict of interests between the two cast a shadow over their relationship from a long-term perspective. The essay focuses on the major factors configuring Russo-Korean cooperation: political collaboration between the RF and RK; the differing strategic guidelines of the two countries, particularly in terms of their respective scales and ambitions; the lasting existence of the two separated Korean states; the correlation of interests in regional diplomacy; and finally, the partial compatibility of the economies of the two countries.
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