ICAS Polling


March 1, 2019

SURVEY SHOWS
PESSIMISM ON NORTH KOREA'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHILE BEING A NUCLEAR STATE
SOUTH KOREA'S APPROACH TO PROVIDE AIDS TO NORTH KOREA ELICITS STRONG NEGATIVE
US SHOULD NOT STAY OUT OF INTER-KOREA GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
US AND SOUTH KOREA MAY FIND WAY TO LIVE WITH NUCLEAR NORTH KOREA, BUT NOT JAPAN
SOVEREIGNTY OF THE KOREAN PENINSULA TO BE DETERMINED BY JUS COGENS RULE


Washington, D.C. March 1, 2019 (ICAS) — A second new poll conducted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS) continues to identify how the current state of U.S.-Korea relationships and some of the Korean Peninsula issues are viewed.

Conducted to an ICAS audience on the Hill, the poll shows that 60% of the people in the survey believe that North Korea (NK) may not succeed its economic development while being a nuclear state while about one third responded that they may envision a nuclear Korean Peninsula with an economic prowess sooner rather than later.

About 73% responded that South Korea (SK) should not give more to NK, which indicates that the majority of the respondents are concerned about current SK's approach to provide aids to NK before NK starts working on concrete denuclearization.

Moreover, 67% of the respondents believed that the United States (US) should not stay out of the apparent building of inter-Korea governments relations.

While President Trump has said that SK should pay more to the US-SK alliance, respondents were hesitant to agree with him. 66% belongs to the “declined to answer/neither/maybe” category. Only 27% agreed with him.

Interestingly, the survey suggested a mixed forecast on the potential of a third summit. 40% assumed a presumptive third meeting while 27% did not. 33% belonged to “declined to answer/neither/maybe” category.

In case a “Nuclear NK” becomes reality, respondents revealed that the US and SK may find a way to live with it, while Japan (JP) will not. More than half (US 53%, SK 60%) of the respondents answered that the US may be able to manage the situation, while 60% believed that JP would not.

60% answered that NK would collapse first. If a sovereignty of the Korean Peninsula becomes an issue to be determined for any reason, 54% of the respondents believed that it should be determined by Jus Cogens rule, a fundamental principle of international law that is accepted by the international community of states as a norm from which no derogation is permitted.

The survey was conducted from February 10 to February 18, 2019 via email with a moderate credibility interval. Supplemental graphic data are available on www.icasinc.org/strategy.html and www.icasinc.org/2019/2019w/2019wpo2.pptx.

Inquiry to ICAS@icasinc.org

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About Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS)

ICAS was established in 1973, as a non-profit, non-partisan, and private educational and research organization and it is incorporated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. ICAS is not an agent of any government and/or a foreign principal, and is solely supported by voluntary contributions. Its activities and programs rely on the private donations of the general public, i.e., individuals, foundations, and corporations. ICAS promotes pertinent relations and conducts appropriate activities with a special emphasis on multilateral relations between the United States and Asia-Pacific rim nations. Its membership includes individuals from varied sectors embracing academic, corporate, cultural, educational, international and other related fields. ICAS strives to provide public services pro bono publico.

This page last modified March 8, 2019 jdb