Environmental Peacebuilding in East Asia: ASEAN’s Role in Facilitating Inter-Korean Environmental Cooperation

This paper explores the potential of environmental peacebuilding as a strategic approach to mitigating long-standing tensions on the Korean Peninsula through the facilitative role of ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations). Drawing on institutional analysis and document-based qualitative research, the study examines how ASEAN’s regional mechanism, particularly the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit (EAS), and various technical platforms—can support inter-Korean environmental cooperation in areas such as biodiversity conservation, transboundary air pollution monitoring, and disaster risk reduction. The study underscores the unique position of ASEAN as a neutral convener with a track record in non-traditional security diplomacy and soft power mediation. Using the theoretical framework of environmental peacebuilding, the research identifies how low-politics ecological issues can function as environmental cooperation as confidence-building measures (CBMs), facilitating dialogue and collaboration in a politically sensitive context. Case studies such as the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) biodiversity corridor, cooperative air quality monitoring influenced by China’s industrial emissions, and disaster management training under AADMER (ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response) illustrate concrete opportunities for ASEAN-led intervention. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of Track 1.5 diplomacy, technical capacity- building platforms such as AWGESC (ASEAN Working Group on Environmentally Sustainable Cities), and ASEAN’s multilateral legitimacy in promoting trust-based engagement. Despite persisting institutional and geopolitical constraints, the research concludes that ASEAN’s inclusive diplomacy, emphasis on consensus, and flexible multilateralism position it effective to facilitate environmental cooperation as a steppingstone toward durable peace on the Korean Peninsula. By integrating environmental security into regional diplomacy, ASEAN not only broadens the discourse on peacebuilding but also reinforces its strategic role in East Asian security architecture.