The Institute of Far Eastern Studies at Gyeongnam National University held the 13th Samcheong Forum at Jeongsan Hall in the Unification Hall at 7 p.m. on the 10th.
At this forum, Jenny Town, Senior Researcher at the Stimson Center and Director of 38 North, was invited to give a presentation and participate in a discussion on the topic "Changing International Security Landscape around North Korea."
Jenny Town, Director of 38 North, emphasized at the forum that "North Korea is actively participating in networks aimed at forming a multipolar system and blocking Western influence," and added, "While securing weapons and military technology support through cooperation with Russia, it continues efforts to portray itself as a 'normal state.'"
She stated, "Due to conflicts between the U.S. and China and Russia, and the strengthening of China-Russia cooperation, international politics is moving toward bloc formation and arms expansion. These international changes are weakening the international community's calls for North Korea's denuclearization and providing new opportunities for North Korea's 'nuclear status' to function effectively in confrontation with the U.S. and Western-led regional security blocs," and mentioned, "To change Kim Jong-un's worldview, the international situation must change."
Furthermore, she explained, "Kim Jong-un is deleting the existing unification discourse and maintaining the North Korean regime as a permanent state by making nuclear weapons and military power core means. While legalizing these moves, he appears to justify extreme actions by exaggerating the concept of 'enemy.'"
After the presentation, there was a Q&A session with graduate students and experts attending the forum regarding changes in the current international situation and various aspects of changes and responses following the inauguration of the second Trump administration.
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