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John Park, a senior program officer who directs USIP's Korea Working Group, examines what North Korea's planned long-range missile test reveals about the hermit nation and what the after effects will be for the key parties.
John Park, a senior program officer who directs USIP’s Korea Working Group, examines North Korea’s preparations for a “satellite launch,” which has cast a long shadow over the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
John Park, a senior program officer who directs USIP’s Korea Working Group, analyzes the U.S.-North Korea agreement announced on February 29. The North Koreans will suspend nuclear activities at its Yongbyon complex and long-range missile tests, and the U.S. will provide 240,000 tons of nutritional assistance to North Korea. While it may not be a breakthrough, this agreement does constitute a modest initial step forward in dealing with North Korea.
Key elements in China’s Communist Party, military, and business circles have steered China’s North Korea policy toward achieving stability and strengthening ties to Pyongyang, complicating U.S. efforts to enlist China’s help at reining in North Korean provocations.
Latest from USIP on Korean Peninsula
- May 1, 2012 | Publication
Read about USIP’s on-the-ground and region-specific work aimed at the prevention of conflict in North Africa, the Middle East, South and Northeast Asia, and our special project on atrocity prevention.
- April 20, 2012 | Publication
On March 28, USIP's Korea Working Group (KWG), headed by John Park, convened the 5th USIP-Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU) Washington Workshop titled "The Outlook for the North Korean Situation and Prospects for U.S.-ROK Cooperation After the Death of Kim Jong-il.".
- April 12, 2012 | Publication
John Park, a senior program officer who directs USIP's Korea Working Group, examines what North Korea's planned long-range missile test reveals about the hermit nation and what the after effects will be for the key parties.
- March 29, 2012 | Publication
USIP leaders explain the effect that events around the world and here at home will have on the U.S., and the contributions the Institute can and does make during a time of tremendous challenge – and opportunity.
USIP conducts ongoing research and policy analysis on major developments on the Korean Peninsula through three Track 1.5 projects – the Korea Working Group (KWG), the U.S. China Project on Crisis Avoidance and Cooperation (PCAC), and the U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Dialogue in Northeast Asia (TDNA). Based on key findings from CAP's ongoing research interviews with Asian government think tank counterparts, KWG director Dr. John Park conducts regular briefings for senior Congressional staffers and officials at the State Department and the Pentagon. Recent briefings focused on:
- China's supporting role in accelerated North Korean leadership succession process via the Communist Party of China-Workers' Party of Korea channel - a largely underexamined relationship with major implications for the U.S.' North Korea policy;
- Beijing's "Sunshine Policy with Chinese Characteristics;"
- the motivations for and limitations of Beijing's efforts to defuse tensions on the Korean peninsula following North Korea's artillery attack on South Korea's Yeonpyeong Island.
Overview
Following four rounds of “exploratory talks” in New York (July 2011), Geneva (October 2011) and Beijing (December 2011 and February 2012), the U.S. and North Korea concluded the “Leap Day Agreement” on February 29. In return for 240,000 metric tons of nutritional assistance provided by the U.S., North Korea agreed to a moratorium on nuclear and missile activities. For the U.S., the deal initially appeared to signal that there was a degree of continuity in North Korean decision-making after the death of Kim Jong-il in December 2011. Since the overall arrangement had been put in place prior to Kim’s death, the Obama administration was hopeful that the deal could be the early basis for working with North Korea to prevent future provocations on the Korean Peninsula and facilitate an eventual resumption of the Six-Party Talks....|
Read More: USIP tracks the situation on the Korean Peninsula
USIP Goals Regarding the Korean Peninsula
USIP is advancing conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts on the Korean Peninsula through a variety of programs and Track 1.5 projects involving policymakers, analysts and NGOs:
- Korea Working Group (KWG)
- U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Dialogue in Northeast Asia (TDNA)
- U.S.-China Project on Crisis Avoidance and Cooperation (PCAC)
Featured Analysis
What Does North Korea's Ballistic Missile Test Tell Us about the Reclusive Country?
On the Issues | April 2012
John Park, a senior program officer who directs USIP's Korea Working Group, examines what North Korea's planned long-range missile test reveals about the hermit nation and what the after effects will be for the key parties.
North Korea’s Planned Missile Test Steals the Spotlight at the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
On the Issues | March 2012
John Park, a senior program officer who directs USIP’s Korea Working Group, examines North Korea’s preparations for a “satellite launch,” which has cast a long shadow over the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit.
Briefing on the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit
News Feature | March 2012
On March 12, the U.S. Institute of Peace’s (USIP) Center for Conflict Management and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs co-convened a closed briefing on the Seoul Nuclear Security Summit for senior diplomats of countries whose head of state will be participating in the summit.
USIP Launches Track 1.5 Project on Preventing Nuclear Security Breaches
In the Field | May 2011
During May 12-13, 2011 USIP co-convened the 1st Seoul Nuclear Security Summit Study Group (SNS3G) workshop in Seoul.
Multimedia
Watch, listen and learn as USIP experts and events address issues regarding the Korean Peninsula:
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Post-2012 Northeast Asia: Challenges & Opportunities for the U.S., Japan and South Korea
Event Audio | December 15, 2011 -
To Give or Not to Give: What's Driving the Current Deliberations on DPRK Food Aid
USIP Event Summary | May 5, 2011 -
Health, Migration and the Future of North Korea
Event Audio | October 19, 2010 - USIP Expert John Park discusses Kim Jong-eun's appointment and promotion
C-SPAN | October 4, 2010
Korean Peninsula Multimedia archive >>
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