By Yoon Won-sup
Staff Reporter

Harvard Professor Joseph Nye, who pioneered the theory of ''soft power,'' said that the resolution of the North Korea's nuclear weapons issue would require both soft and hard power.

At a lecture for university students in Seoul Tuesday, Nye said that it was important to use hard power such as economic pressure as well as soft power of naturally letting North Koreans seek a better life to escape their oppressive regime.

He added China's role is important in terms of hard power while South Korea will play an important role in soft power over the nuclear threat.

Nye suggested soft power alone would not solve the nuclear issue by saying that North Korean leader Kim Jong-il's love of Hollywood movies would not affect Pyongyang's nuclear policy.

He stressed the importance of cooperation among Korea, the United States, Japan and China in order to induce changes in North Korea.

In the book, ''Soft Power: The Means to Success in World Politics,'' Nye defined soft power ― a contrasting concept to hard power ― as representing cultural influences that can be a successful tool for national interest.

He also said Washington needs to seek what he calls ''smart power,'' a combination of hard and soft powers in a balanced manner.

''The United States managed such a combination during the Cold War, but more recently U.S. foreign policy has tended to over-rely on hard power because it is the most direct and visible source of American strength,'' he said.

A major threshold was the 9/11 terrorist attacks, which have thrown the United States off course, he said.

''Since the shock of 9/11, the United States has been exporting fear and anger rather than our more traditional values of hope and optimism,'' he said. ''The United States should become a smart power by once again investing in the global goods.''

His advice for Washington to be a smart power is the restoration of alliances and focusing on global development, public diplomacy, economic integration and global goods such as energy security and climate change.

The Korea Foundation and the East Asia Institute invited Nye with other foreign scholars and experts to a lecture at a seminar aimed at discussing ways of promoting Korea's public diplomacy through soft power.

Yim Sung-joon, president of the foundation, said, ''The 21st century is an era of soft power, which emphasizes culture, knowledge, technology, value sharing and international exchanges.'' Participants in the roundtable include Jan Melissen, director of the Institute of International Relations Clingendael in the Netherlands; Barnett Baron, executive vice president of the Asia Foundation; Chu Yun-han, president of the Chiang Ching-kuo Foundation; Vishakha Desai, president of the Asia Society; Evans Revere, president of the Korea Society; former Foreign Minister Han Seung-joo; and Professor Lee Shin-wha of Korea University.

Nye has served as assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, chair of the National Intelligence Council, and deputy undersecretary of state for security assistance, science and technology.

He also served as dean of the Kennedy School of Harvard University.

yoonwonsup@koreatimes.co.kr