The year 2019 is a meaningful year in the sense that this year is the 100th anniversary since the establishment of the Korean Provisionary Government, and the 74th anniversary since the independence of the Korean peninsula from the Japanese occupation of Korea.

Commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Independence Movement on May 1st 1919, MOON Jae-In, the president of the Republic of Korea(ROK), characterized the new order for the coming 100 years, as the New Korean Peninsula Regime, and officially committed to promote the Peace-Cooperation Community and the Economy-Cooperation Community together with North Korea.

With a view to establishing sustainable peace and prosperity in the Korean peninsula, it is very important for political leaders to make a definite decision to settle peacefully international disputes and problems that have occurred in East Asia in accordance with international law and justice. Judging from current international circumstances surrounding the Korean peninsula, there is, unfortunately, an increasing tendency of prioritizing the expansion of national interests by the use or threat or the use of power and economic coercion, rather than pursuing dispute settlement under international law and mutual cooperation.

For the successful launching of the Peace and Prosperity Community in East Asia, it is indispensable for the East Asian countries to restore and maintain political credibility, especially among Japan, the ROK, and China. However, the recent increase of tension caused by the development of nuclear weapons by North Korea, together with territorial disputes, and the energy and security crisis prevalent in North-East Asia, have cast a cloud over the prospect of the development of the Peace and Prosperity Community in East Asia. It should be noted that France and Germany established the EEC and developed the EU, the peace and prosperity community, with the help of other European countries, by establishing reconciliation and credibility, despite the deep-rooted antagonistic relationship that had accumulated through the two World Wars. Is it impossible for East Asian countries to build this kind of peace and prosperity community in East Asia?

With a view to establishing sustainable peace and prosperity in East Asia filled with deep-rooted historical discord, wise and definite decisions are called upon to utilize various pending issues and problems as a catalyzer for reconciliation and cooperation, not for discord and antagonism. If we do not first empty the dish full of discord and antagonism, reconciliation and cooperation cannot be poured into it. If we do not unfold our hands that are filled with distrust and hegemony, we will not be able to catch peace and prosperity.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the authors who contributed valuable articles and special reports including useful remarks and documents regarding recent developments and the ROK’s practices on the interpretation and application of international law, as well as my colleagues on the editorial board, especially Professor LEE Seryon, the Executive Editor, for her dedicated work on editing Volume 6, KYIL. I also appreciate Professor LEE Jang- Hie, the former Editor-in-Chief who contributed his sincere efforts to the compilation of five volumes of KYIL (from V. 1 to V. 5). Finally, I would like to thank staff editors and Dr. SEO Jin-Woong, the Secretary of the Korean Branch, ILA, for their heartful assistance in publishing this volume.

CHOI Seung-Hwan
KYIL Editor-in-Chief