North Korea Since the 1990s and U.S.-North Korea Relations: Problems and Prospects

Registration is required for non CUID cardholders to access the Morningside campus. Attendees must present a government-issued ID with their name matching exactly the name registered for the event, along with an one-time QR code (via email), for entry. For non CUID cardholders, please register by 4 pm on Oct. 8 for entry onto campus.

Speaker: Haksoon Paik, President of the Academy of Kim Dae-jung Studies

Moderator: Arvid Lukauskas, Executive Director, Picker Center for Executive Education and MPA in Economic Policy Management, School of International and Public Affairs, Columbia University

This talk examines the strategic significance of North Korea and the Korean Peninsula for the United States and the world. It then discusses North Korea’s political and economic landscape since the early 1990s, focusing on current developments. The talk highlights North Korea’s security and foreign policies, emphasizing: (1) its strategy of survival and development for the 21st century, and (2) U.S.-North Korea relations, with a particular focus on nuclear and ballistic missile issues. It also reviews what happened at the Hanoi summit and the deep disillusionment among key stakeholders engaged in Korean Peninsula affairs following the failed Hanoi summit. The discussion then shifts to North Korea’s recent alignment with Russia post-Hanoi, examining the implications of its mutual defense treaty with Russia for the Korean Peninsula, the Russia-Ukraine War, and broader regional and global politics. The talk considers the possibility of a renewed Cold War dynamic due to the geopolitical alignments surrounding the Koreas (US-Japan-South Korea vs. China-Russia-North Korea) and the increased threat of nuclear war on the Korean Peninsula. Finally, it concludes by highlighting challenges and prospects for improvement.

This event is hosted by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute.

Registration: To attend this event in-person, please register HERE.