By Lee Hyo-sik
South Korea has become a less peaceful place in the eyes of non-Koreans over the past year, following the North’s sinking of one of its naval ships and the shelling of an island near the maritime border in 2010.
The Institute for Economics and Peace, an Australia-based research institute, said the nation earned 1.829 points out of 5 in its global peace index (GPI) this year, ranking it 50th among 153 countries.
Its ranking has kept falling — from 32nd in 2008 to 33rd in 2009 and 43rd last year. Out of a total score of 5, one indicates the most peaceful level.
The index is composed of 23 qualitative and quantitative indicators from respected sources, which combine internal and external factors ranging from a nation’s military expenditure to its relations with neighboring countries and the level of respect for human rights.
North Korea also saw its peace ranking drop sharply this year to 149th from 139th in 2010 by earning 3.092 points. It was classified as one of the 10 least peaceful countries, along with Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan, Russia, Pakistan and Israel.
“North Korea’s score deteriorated sharply, with declines in eight indicators spanning security in society and the military sphere. Its tense relations with its neighbors became even more strained in 2010, following the administration’s decision in March 2010 to attack a South Korean naval vessel, the Cheonan, and to launch missiles at Yeonpyeong Island in November,” the institute said.
It also said North Korea’s annual military expenditure was estimated at around $5 billion for 2002 and it is thought to have increased it to around 20 percent of its gross domestic product in 2009.
The figure is by far the largest proportion of the 153 countries surveyed and more than twice the level of Saudi Arabia, the second largest at 9.4 percent.
Meanwhile, Iceland was ranked as the world’s most peaceful country, followed by New Zealand, Japan, Denmark, Czech Republic and Austria, while Somalia was found to be the least peaceful place.