PrintJohn S. Park
Senior Research Associate (Northeast Asia), Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention
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John S. Park focuses on Northeast Asian security, economic and energy issues and U.S. foreign policy toward the region. He is the director of the Institute’s Korea Working Group, a consultative body comprising senior experts from the government and think tank communities, and chaired by Ambassador Richard Solomon. Park is co-director of the U.S.-China Project on Crisis Avoidance and Cooperation, which is a collaborative endeavor with Fudan University and the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations. Park is also co-director of the Trilateral Dialogue in Northeast Asia, which brings together U.S., South Korean and Japanese partners.
Park came to the Institute from Goldman Sachs’ public finance group in New York. Prior to that, he was the project leader of the North Korea Analysis Group, a Managing the Atom working group at the Harvard Kennedy School. Park previously worked in Goldman Sachs’ M&A Advisory Group in Hong Kong and The Boston Consulting Group’s Financial Services Practice in Seoul. In both positions, he specialized in post-Asian Financial Crisis economic restructuring in South Korea. Park’s writings have appeared in the Washington Quarterly, Wall Street Journal Asia,Jane's Intelligence Review, International Herald Tribune, and Far Eastern Economic Review. He has also commented on the Six-Party Talks on BBC World Service, CNN, CNBC Asia, Bloomberg TV, NPR and Reuters.
Park received his Ph.D. from Cambridge University. He completed his predoctoral and postdoctoral training at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School.
Multimedia
Publications:
- "America and China diverge on a shared Korean goal," Financial Times (December 8, 2009), with Drew Thompson.
- "Understanding New Opportunities to Enhance Human Security in the DPRK," NAPSNet Policy Forum (August 20, 2009)
- "North Korea's Nuclear Policy Behavior: Deterrence and Leverage," in Nuclear Weapons and Security in 21st Century Asia, edited by Muthiah Alagappa (Stanford University Press, 2008).
- "Will North Korea Disarm?" Jane's Intelligence Review (August 2008).
- Keeping an Eye on an Unruly Neighbor: Chinese Views of Economic Reform and Stability in North Korea
Working Paper, November 2007 - "How China can Bring Sunshine to Korea," Far Eastern Economic Review (June 2006).
- "Path for Seoul's Sunshine Policy," The Korea Times (April 5, 2006).
- "Inside Multilateralism: The Six-Party Talks," Washington Quarterly (Autumn 2005).
- "Creating a Best Case Scenario," Korea Confronts the Future, edited by John Barry Kotch and Frank-Jürgen Richter (Marshall Cavendish, 2005).
- "Detecting Danger," Harvard International Review (Spring 2005).
- "North Korea's Grip on China," The Globe and Mail (February 23, 2005).
- "China's Herculean N. Korea Task," The Korea Herald (February 12, 2005).
- "North Korean Crisis: China Shows the Way to Pyongyang," International Herald Tribune (May 14, 2004).
- "China Holds the Key to Unlocking the North Korean Crisis," Globe and Mail (August 8, 2003).
- "A Chinese Roadmap For Korea," Asian Wall Street Journal (June 30, 2003).
Available on usip.org:
Resources & Tools
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USIP’s John Park assesses what’s behind North Korea’s redenomination and its implications for the people and regime. |
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One day after North Korea’s nuclear test drew widespread condemnation, the country on May 26th test-launched two more short-range missiles. This marks Pyongyang's second nuclear test, after its first in October 2006. Amid rising tensions on the Korean peninsula, South Korea joined the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S. initiative to curb the trade of weapons of mass destruction, an action North has called a declaration of war. |
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By examining how North Korea, Inc. — the web of state trading companies affiliated to the Korean Workers’ Party, the Korean People’s Army, and the Cabinet — operates, this report highlights a new framework for gauging regime stability in North Korea. |
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This report examines the complexities of Chinese-North Korean relations, taking into account the perspective of China's border areas, a vital aspect of China's relationship with the Korean peninsula that is often overlooked. Countries: China, North Korea
| Issue Areas: Civil-Military Relations, Conflict Analysis, Demographics, Economics and Development, Political Systems and International Relations
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An online toolkit for peacemakers, negotiators, and other conflict management practitioners. |
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The White House said North Korea had taken "a serious step in the wrong direction" when the regime expelled international inspectors from the country and announced it would restart its nuclear program. USIP’s John S. Park provides regional context to the latest developments. |
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Recent reports on the ill health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il have renewed speculation over his succession and the country’s future, while chronic food shortages and stalled denuclearization activities complicate the situation. In this On the Issues, Senior Research Associate and North Korea specialist John S. Park explores these issues. |
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What are the repercussions of Pyongyang's and Washington's recent steps on the nuclear issue? Is this a major shift or a calculated short-term move? Read analysis from Senior Fellow John S. Park. |
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What is the nature of internal Chinese debate regarding North Korea? In the event of instability in the Korean peninsula, how would Beijing respond? Drawing on discussions with North Korea specialists during a Center for Strategic and International Studies-USIP delegation visit to the People's Republic of China, this report explores these and related issues. Countries: China, North Korea
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Economics and Development, Governance, Political Systems and International Relations
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While the October 3, 2007 Six-Party Talks accord outlines a roadmap for the disablement of North Korea’s core nuclear facilities, the specific details of the nuclear disablement process are still being developed. USIP’s Korea Working Group commissioned this Working Paper in order to facilitate a better understanding of nuclear disablement. |
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Drawing on two international conferences recently held in China, this report explores the influences relationships such as that between the U.S. and China have on the Korean peninsula. Countries: China, North Korea, South Korea
| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Weapons & Arms Control
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What are the U.S. visions for the future of the Korean peninsula? Panelists at a recent conference concluded that a humanitarian, rather than military, response to the crisis is necessary, along with expressed potential for the Six-Party framework to address issues beyond North Korea's nuclear program. |
Events
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February 2, 2010
This public symposium explored how the U.S., South Korea, and Japan can cooperate on common challenges and opportunities in the international community. Countries: Japan, North Korea, South Korea, United States
| Issue Areas: Civil-Military Relations, Conflict Analysis, Conflict Management and Resolution, Economics and Development, Weapons & Arms Control
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November 3, 2009
This joint Asia Society-U.S. Institute of Peace event, which will take place in New York, will explore how financial sanctions and/or engagement could change North Korean behavior. Admission fee is required. Countries: North Korea
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, International and Regional Organizations, Negotiation and Diplomacy
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October 15, 2009
The North Korea International Documentation Project, in cooperation with the United States Institute of Peace and the Wilson Center's Asia Program, cordially invites you to attend a panel discussion on inter-Korean relations. Countries: North Korea, South Korea
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October 14, 2009
The U.S. Institute of Peace and the Korea Economic Institute recently convened a discussion of the impact of Premier Wen's visit to Pyongyang on U.S. North Korea policy. Countries: China, North Korea
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June 17, 2009
On behalf of Ambassador Richard Solomon, Chair of the Korea Working Group, the U.S. Institute of Peace convenes a USIP-Nixon Center public event on two new USIP Working Papers. |
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June 10, 2009
On behalf of Ambassador Richard Solomon, Chair of the Korea Working Group, the U.S. Institute of Peace cordially invites you to a joint CSIS-KEI-USIP public event |
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April 6, 2009
Amid ongoing concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs, China and North Korea are celebrating the "Year of Sino-DPRK Friendship," commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Based on new materials, panelists Jin Linbo, John Park, James Person, and Bernd Schaefer examined the history of the Sino-DPRK alliance and its limits. Countries: China, North Korea
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March 17, 2009
A public event co-sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Asia Society Countries: China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea
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February 10, 2009
A public event co-sponsored by the U.S. Institute of Peace and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars' North Korea International Documentation Project: This event has already taken place. Countries: North Korea
| Issue Areas: Conflict Analysis, Political Systems and International Relations
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May 20, 2008
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