North Korea Foreign Policy Under the Three Kims | Yong Suk Lee and Benjamin R. Young

This talk discusses the historical and contemporary foreign policy objectives and dynamics of the North Korean government, offering insights into the DPRK's foreign relations.
Speakers:
Yong Suk Lee, Director of Global Risk Analysis for Google’s Global Security & Resilience Services
Benjamin R. Young, Assistant Professor of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness, Virginia Commonwealth University
Moderator:
Ria Roy, Hoover Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University
Benjamin R. Young examines the foreign policy shifts undertaken by North Korea under the leadership of Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, and Kim Jong Un. He explores how the Kim family regime has pivoted away from its previous emphasis on solidarity with "small countries" and the Third World, instead reasserting North Korea's focus on building stronger ties with the "big countries," particularly Russia. Young analyzes the motivations behind this strategic reorientation, the implications for North Korea's regional and global positioning, and the broader geopolitical dynamics that have shaped this foreign policy transformation under Kim Jong Un’s rule.
Yong Suk Lee examines the key foreign policy lessons learned by North Korea over the past three decades, from the four-party talks in the late 1990s to the Hanoi Summit in 2019 and beyond. Drawing on his observations and analyses from his senior leadership position within the CIA, Lee provides insights into the evolution of US-North Korea relations, North Korea’s engagement with China, and the dynamics of the inter-Korean relationship. By reflecting on North Korea's diplomatic maneuvers, Lee offers a nuanced understanding of the driving forces and strategic calculations behind Pyongyang's foreign policy decision-making during this pivotal period.