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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND THE NEEDS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

INTRODUCTION Society is a group of people that involved and interacted in a daily activity, people interacts each other in many kind of relationship. Relationship between the people is a common thing to do as a human. People in the society do a relationship in all aspects of human life, social, economy and culture. The relationship and activity between the people naturally formulated several norms and rules in the society, to distinguish which is the proper conduct. Norms and rules recognized as the standard of life for the people living in certain society. Society In the smallest context is a relationship between humans and in the biggest context is between states called international society. Similar to human, it will be difficult for one state if the state did not interact and make a relationship with the other state. The relationship between states can provide a benefit to each state to fulfill their internal and external needs. Relationship between one state with the other state called international relations. International relations needed to meet the necessities of life and the existence of a state in international society, in addition to the creation of peace and well-being

that is the desire of every man and nation in the world. Every country has certain advantages, disadvantages and different interests. These are the things that encourage international relations and cooperation. International relations in the world based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. International relations, among others, aims to: a. Stimulate the economic growth in each country. b. Create mutual understanding among nations in the developing world and establish peace. c. Creating social justice and prosperity for all people. A relationship between states will be going well when there are guidelines that serve as a stepping stone. International guidelines, must be complied with by the parties entered into a relationship, both written and unwritten, the guidelines commonly known as international law. The position of International law in international relations is as the system of law regulating the interrelationship of sovereign states and their rights and duties with regard to one another. International law as the instrument in international relations provides rules and principles of general application dealing with the conduct of nations and of international organizations and with their relations. The international

law as the norms and rules of international relations is based on the international customs and treaties that considered as the two most important sources of it.1 Relationship between states in the international society created the customs and related states agreed to sign treaties as the formulation of customs to become the standard regulations in the international society. International law almost covered everything related to the activity of state. There are international rules about the sea, airspace, telecommunication, finance, trade, nationality, human rights, using of armed force, environment and national security2 International law as the existed regulation in international relations kept the stability of international society that consists of many states. Even if international law categorized as a weak law, international law recognized by international society because there are several factors, namely; a. Needs and the interest for the legal certainty in performing international relations b. Big consequences politically and economically to break the international law, namely; lost of trust, exiled in international relations and the waving of membership in one international organization. c. Sanctions by the other states, international organization and international court
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Henry Campbell Black M. A., Blacks Law Dictionary, St.Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co. pages. Pages.565 2 Martin Dixon, Textbook on International Law,Blackstone Press Limited, fourt edition 2000. Pages.3

d. Psychological factor aware of condemnation by the other parties for violation of international law.3 International law is categorized as a weak law because the lack of institutions to enforce the international law. Beside the weakness, international law has already become the main guidelines for many states in maintaining relationship. International law is weak but in the other side is strong when realize the impact if one state do a violation to the international law.

CASE DESCRIPTION The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea or commonly known as North Korea is one of the examples for the state who has already involved in high-tensioned international relations. North Korea has a high-tensioned relationship with South Korea, Japan, USA and some European countries. Beside the high-tensioned relations, North Korea also has a friendly relationship with China and USSR. Good relationship of North Korea with China and USSR has already proven to be a good decision in the Korean War when North Koreas armed forces cannot match the armed forces of USA and South Korea, the China as the closest friend sent

Sefriani, Suatu Pengantar Hukum International, Rajawali Pers PT.Raja Grafindo Persada, Jakarta, 2010. Pages:15

a large scale of army to help the North Korean, while the USSR provide the North Korean army with military equipments. After the Korean War, North Korea often caused a diplomatic problem with the neighbor state South Korea. The North Koreas nuclear activities terrorized South Korea and international society condemns the misconduct of North Korean government. International society condemns and calls for a sanctions because of the nuclear activity by the North Korean that threatened the peace. United Nations Security Council as the body of United Nations for peace and security in international security has already passed several resolutions to give a sanction for North Korean government and the several states also give an economic sanction because of the misconduct of the North Korean government.

ANALYSIS The case gives a clear explanation about the benefit of international relations. North Korea as a state with limited international relations can survive from the external threats because of the friendly relationship with China and USSR. That is proved that one state will be fragile without any international relations. The other side, international law as explained before is a custom of international relations if one state does misconduct that caused threats; the

international society will give a punishment directly or through one international organization. Even China and USSR/Russia as the main member in United Nations Security Council, China and USSR/Russia cannot save North Korea from the sanctions. China and USSR/Russia as the big state with a large relationship with the other states, is they vetoed the sanctions by UNSC means they also will be condemned by the international society. North Korea as a state with sovereignty has a rights to develop their nuclear technology, but North Korea also has an obligations to respect the other states rights. Sovereignty is not only a rights but also responsibility to respect the other states, one state should responsible and compensate for every misconduct to the other state.4

Ibid. Pages:266

CONCLUSION International relations and international law is one unity to make sure the stability of international society. International relations between states create a customs, customs formulated into treaties that recognized by the international society as the main guidelines in maintaining international relationship between states. The international law formulated and agreed by the existing states to maintain a good relationship, stability and peaceful in international society. Misconduct or violation to the international law will caused a bad impact for the state that violate it, even there are no clear institution to give a punishment. Maintaining international relations is necessary for one state, because state will be troubled without international relations. Even the relationship is limited it will give a huge impact to one state in a certain situation and condition.

TABBLE OF REFERENCE Henry Campbell Black, Blacks Law Dictionary Abridged Sixth Edition, St.Paul, Minnesota: West Publishing Co, Minnesota, 1991. Jawahir Thontowi and Pranoto Iskandar. Hukum Internasional Kontemporer, Refika Aditama, Bandung. 2006 Sefriani. Hukum Internasional Suatu Pengantar, Rajawali Pers, Jakarta. 2012

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Korea_and_weapons_of_mass_destruction#North _Korea.C2.A0.E2.80.93_United_States_relations