Crossroads Asia | Diplomacy | East Asia

Can Northeast Asia’s New Geopolitical Reality Create Opportunities for Mongolia?

Within the emerging geopolitical landscape, Mongolia may have opportunities to diversify its economic partners.

Northeast Asia’s geopolitical environment is transforming rapidly. While Russia’s war in Ukraine created opportunities for North Korea to re-engage the world, the recent joint declaration by Russia and China signals to global actors that deeper regional cooperation mechanisms are at play. In this evolving geopolitical environment, Mongolia, too, will have options to diversify its partners and expand economic opportunities. 

Since the end of World War II, Mongolia has positioned itself as an active player in promoting peaceful dialogues and conflict resolution to global and regional conflicts. Particularly in Northeast Asia’s context, Mongolia has been a voice of diplomacy, and preferenced soft power over hard power when dealing with issues such as the denuclearization of North Korea, the unification of the two Koreas, and building a robust system of regional connectivity. 

In Mongolia’s diplomatic efforts and by maintaining strong historical links with both Seoul and Pyongyang, Ulaanbaatar became a vessel for diplomacy and cultural engagement with both countries. Strategically, by strengthening these relationships, Mongolia aims to reduce its landlocked economic vulnerability. Within the emerging geopolitical landscape, Mongolia may have opportunities to diversify its economic partners.

Considering Mongolia and North Korea’s historic diplomatic ties, there are existing cooperation mechanisms and projects at hand. For example, in 2013, during a historic visit of the Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia to Pyongyang, the two countries signed an economic package which included the utilization of North Korea’s Rajin port. The Rajin Port is located in the Rason Special Economic Zone and serves as a strategic access that could unlock Mongolia’s landlocked position, generating a cold-water maritime outlet. By utilizing the port, Mongolia will be able to diversify its ports and not solely depend on China’s port of Tianjin.

Moreover, Mongolia has the potential to export coal to North Korea. Given the current geopolitical environment where both Russia and China are seeking opportunities with North Korea, Mongolia’s position is equally crucial.

The Rajin port discussion began back in the 1990s, with the backing of the United Nations under the Greater Tumen Initiative (GTI), and has been an economic pillar between Mongolia and North Korea despite changes of leadership.

During this year’s Ulaanbaatar Dialogue on Northeast Asian Security, which took place on June 5, South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young made a special address on the on “The Path to Peaceful Coexistence on the Korean Peninsula and Common Prosperity in Northeast Asia.” Chung met with Mongolian President Khurelsukh Ukhnaa and called for Mongolia’s support in advancing peace in the Korean Peninsula. 

Moreover, in an effort to include North Korea in the changing geopolitical scene in Northeast Asia, Chung called for Pyongyang’s active participation in the security dialogues and the Tumen River development. 

The Tumen River........

© The Diplomat