[Smart Q&A: Mark E. Manyin] Policy Approaches to North Korea

YouTube link: video.eai.or.kr/20111021markQA.flv

On October 21, the Center for Asian Security Studies hosted a Smart Q&A session with Mark E. Manyin, a Research Fellow at the U.S. Congressional Research Service and attendee of the ROK-U.S. Alliance Conference. The East Asia Institute aims to enhance understanding of current issues and foster creative and strategic policy ideas through its Smart Q&A sessions, which offer multifaceted perspectives on various topics.

Interview

Mark E. Manyin, U.S. Congressional Research Service

Questions

1) The Impact of Strategic Patience on North Korea

In 2011 North Korea has changed its tone by offering to return to the Six-Party Talks, asking for humanitarian aid, and holding back from further provocations. To what extent has the Obama and Lee administration’s “strategic patience” had an impact on North Korea’s changing behavior?

2) U.S. Appointment of New Special Envoy to North Korea

Ambassador Stephen Bosworth will leave as the Special Representative for North Korea policy and will be replaced by Glyn Davies, the current ambassador to the IAEA. Ambassador Bosworth worked on a part-time basis which relates to the “strategic patience” approach of the Obama administration. By comparison, Ambassador Davies will be working on a full-time basis; does this mean any change in the Obama administration’s approach?

3) North Korea’s Leadership Transition

North Korea has declared 2012 as the year it will become a “strong and prosperous nation.” It is expected that this will signal Kim Jong-eun’s formal designation as successor or that he will at least play a bigger role. What will be the impact of this period of leadership transition upon the North Korean nuclear crisis?

4) East Asia after 2012

With the simultaneous leadership transition in the main countries of East Asia including the United States, 2012 will be a period of uncertainty. How will the main issues facing the region become more politicized during this period?