This paper critically reassesses the relevance of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act and the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) as conceptual models for advancing security and cooperation in Northeast Asia. Although the Helsinki Process was shaped by the unique historical and geopolitical context of Cold War Europe - marked by bipolarity, institutionalised alliances, and shared interests in détente - its core principles of structured dialogue, norm-building, and risk reduction remain pertinent to contemporary security challenges. Northeast Asia today faces intensifying US-China rivalry, North Korea’s advancing nuclear capabilities, recurring historical and territorial disputes, and the absence of an inclusive regional security framework. As the risk of interstate conflict and a large-scale arms race grows, the need to develop cooperative security mechanisms becomes more urgent. This study argues that while the direct application of the Helsinki model to 21st-century Northeast Asia is neither feasible nor desirable, its underlying principles offer valuable insights and guidance. Gradual trust-building, functional cooperation, and the activation of Track 1.5 and Track 2 diplomacy - combined with the emerging trend of minilateral initiatives - could provide a pragmatic pathway toward a more stable, institutionalised regional security order.