November 16

Panel on North Korea featuring Prof. C. Harrison Kim

A New Stage of North Korean Nuclear Weapons Challenges: Possibilities for Changes from Within?
Thursday, November 16
12:00 – 1:00 PM
Center for Korean Studies Auditorium
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North Korea’s nuclear program began in the 1960s, and weaponization started in the 1990s. The nuclear weapons program accelerated in the 2000s as DPRK withdrew from the Non-Proliferation Treaty in 2003. With its 6th nuclear test in Gilju on September 3, 2017, North Korea demonstrated that it had developed a hydrogen bomb warhead. It has also developed a nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), which is believed to be evolving into one that could carry nuclear warheads to the United States and its territories.

What are our options to deal with the nuclear weapons challenges from North Korea? Are there any safe military options that could avoid all-out war? Can dialog and a peace treaty provide a meaningful solution? Is there any room for humanitarian and human rights approaches dealing with North Korea?

Three UH Manoa experts on Korea (Harrison Kim, History; Tae-Ung Baek, Law School; Edward Shultz, SPAS emeritus) will discuss the current stage of North Korean nuclear weapons challenges, and possibilities for changes from within in this secluded country.