Gyeongnam National University Far East Issue Research Institute Holds 71st Unification Strategy Forum

On the Theme of 'Assessment of North Korean Situation in 2022 and Outlook for 2023'

The Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Gyeongnam National University held the 71st Unification Strategy Forum.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Song Jong-gu] The Institute of Far Eastern Affairs at Gyeongnam National University held the "71st Unification Strategy Forum" (webinar, simultaneous interpretation) on the 10th.

Under the theme "Assessment of North Korea's Situation in 2022 and Outlook for 2023," this Unification Strategy Forum was conducted in two sessions covering five detailed topics: North Korea's politics, military, economy, foreign affairs, and inter-Korean relations.

In the first session, Kim Gap-sik, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, presented on "Assessment and Outlook of North Korea's Political Sector," Kim Dong-yeop, Professor at the University of North Korean Studies, spoke on "Assessment and Outlook of North Korea's Military Sector," and Yang Moon-su, Professor at the University of North Korean Studies, presented on "Assessment and Outlook of North Korea's Economic Sector."

In the political sector, Lee Ki-dong, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, and Hisashi Hirai, Guest Editorial Writer at Kyodo News, participated in the discussion. In the military sector, Lee Byung-chul, Professor at the Institute of Far Eastern Affairs at Gyeongnam National University, and Park Won-gon, Professor at Ewha Womans University, took part in the discussion. In the economic sector, Im Eul-chul, Professor at the Institute of Far Eastern Affairs at Gyeongnam National University, and Park Young-ae, Professor at Jilin University, engaged in the discussion.

In the second session, Lee Jeong-cheol, Professor at Seoul National University, presented on "Assessment and Outlook of North Korea's Foreign Strategy," and Choi Yong-hwan, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, spoke on "Assessment and Outlook of North Korea's Inter-Korean Policy."

In the foreign affairs sector, Lee Sang-man, Professor at the Institute of Far Eastern Affairs at Gyeongnam National University, and Lee Woong-hyun, Research Professor at the Graduate School of Engineering at Korea University, participated in the discussion. In the inter-Korean sector, Choi Young-jun, Professor at the Institute of Far Eastern Affairs at Gyeongnam National University, and Li Nan, Deputy Director of the U.S. Research Institute at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, took part in the discussion.

Director Lee Gwan-se said, "This was a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of recent trends on the Korean Peninsula and North Korea's policy directions in various fields this year," adding, "It was a meaningful occasion to establish the direction for our government's unification and North Korea policies."