DONATE

JUNG H. PAK

< Distinguished speaker series

Event information

JUNG H. PAK

SENIOR FELLOW & SK-KOREA FOUNDATION CHAIR IN KOREA STUDIES; 

CENTER FOR ASIA POLICY STUDIES, THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION

What to Expect in US-North Korea Relations in 2020

DATE: January 23, 2020 6:00 pm

WATCH EVENT ON YOUTUBE

Background

Professor Pak has provided the following description of her presentation: “Despite three Trump-Kim meetings since 2018, North Korea has intensified its threats and doubled-down on its defiance of US and international calls for denuclearization. After conducting two dozen short-range missile tests since May and stymieing working-level nuclear negotiations, Kim Jong Un kicked off the new year promising a “shocking actual action” to make the US “pay for the pains” suffered by the North as a result of sanctions. But he did not rule out the possibility of engagement with the United States. What does all this mean for US-North Korea ties in the coming year? How will the US calibrate its approach to North Korean denuclearization? What is the potential for a return to the “fire and fury” of late 2017?”

Professor Pak is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate and former trustee of Colgate University. Her Ph.D. is in United States History from Columbia University. She taught at Hunter College and was a Fulbright Scholar to South Korea. Before joining Brookings, she held senior positions at the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence where she led the U.S. intelligence community’s strategic analysis on Korea issues as the Deputy National Intelligence Officer. Currently she is a senior fellow and SK-Korea Studies Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution and the author of Becoming Kim Jong Un: A CIA Analyst’s Insights into North Korea’s Enigmatic Young Dictator (Ballantine, forthcoming April 2020). At Brookings She focuses on the national security challenges facing the United States and East Asia, including North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction capabilities, the regime’s domestic and foreign policy calculus, and internal stability. She also has expertise in US- South Korea relations and northeast Asia geopolitical dynamics. She has been interviewed and provided commentaries in the nation’s major print and electronic media.

It is a great pleasure to welcome Dr. Jung H. Pak to the Council.

Share:

Questions about the program?

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Be the First to Hear about Upcoming Speakers

The Baltimore Council on Foreign Affairs is purely a local organization in programming, governance and support.

Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin Spotify
Quick Links
Get In Touch

© BCFA All Rights Reserved.

Close

Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.