The U.S.-South Korea relationship has a long and complex history, with the issue having gained particular importance last year amid talk of a “decoupling” in the alliance.

In this episode, former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Mark Lippert discusses his time as Washington’s man in Seoul, the role of American diplomacy, and inter-Korean issues.

Also discussed? The state of the State Department, prospects for denuclearization, and past tensions with North Korea.

Mark Lippert served as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea from 2014 to 2017. He previously served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, among other roles. He now works as a Vice President at Boeing International.

About the podcast: The “North Korea News Podcast” is a weekly podcast hosted exclusively by NK News, covering all things DPRK: from news to extended interview with leading experts and analysts in the field and insight from our very own journalists.

Check out the shop here: https://www.nkshop.org/

North Korea News Podcast by NK News

Ambassador Mark Lippert on U.S.-Korea relations – North Korea News Podcast Episode 53

U.S.-North Korea diplomacy got a much-needed shot in the arm over the weekend, with officials from both sides sitting down for long-awaited talks in Washington DC and on the outskirts of Stockholm. Those meetings saw, among other things, the delivery of yet another letter from the North Korean leader to the American President.

Hoping to make sense of the developments, NK News’s Oliver Hotham, Chad O’Carroll, Colin Zwirko, and Dagyum Ji sat down for roundtable chat to discuss the renewed negotiations and what it all means going forward.

Also under discussion? Prospects for a relaxation of sanctions this year, plans for a second summit in Vietnam, and Kim Jong Un’s birthday trip to Beijing.

About the podcast: The “North Korea News Podcast” is a weekly podcast hosted exclusively by NK News, covering all things DPRK: from news to extended interview with leading experts and analysts in the field and insight from our very own journalists.

Our annual holiday shop is also coming to a close on Friday. Be sure to check it out before it’s too late! https://www.nkshop.org/

Kim and Trump’s pen pal diplomacy: a roundtable – North Korea News Podcast 54

With a second summit between North Korea and the U.S. looming and plans for Kim Jong Un to visit Seoul in the coming months, it feels like the days of fire and fury are far behind us.

But, as pointed out by a recent report by the International Crisis Group (ICG), the “current holding pattern cannot be sustained forever”: eventually, both sides will need to offer concessions.

In this episode of the NK News Podcast, ICG’s Chris Green discusses a range of issues including negotiation strategy, inter-Korean dialogue, , economics, and more.

Chris Green works as a Korea expert at the ICG. He is the former head of international affairs at the Daily NK, and translated the memoirs of the late Hwang Jang-yop.

About the podcast: The “North Korea News Podcast” is a weekly podcast hosted exclusively by NK News, covering all things DPRK: from news to extended interview with leading experts and analysts in the field and insight from our very own journalists.

How to talk so North Korea will listen – North Korea News Podcast Episode 55

NK News‘s sister site NK Pro has for several months now been putting out the “Month in Review” feature, a comprehensive guide to all the most critical goings-on in and around the peninsula over the previous 31 days.

This week, that report’s author and Korea Risk Group CEO Chad O’Carroll talks listeners through a busy January in Korea, from DPRK investment bids to another DPRK-China summit and prospects for an upcoming meeting between Kim Jong Un and President Trump, as well as what to expect in February.

About the podcast: The “North Korea News Podcast” is a weekly podcast hosted exclusively by NK News, covering all things DPRK: from news to extended interview with leading experts and analysts in the field and insight from our very own journalists.

North Korea: a month in review – North Korea News Podcast Episode 56

*As of Tuesday, February 19, we have stopped uploading episodes on Soundcloud. The NK News Podcast will continue to be available on iTunes, Google Play and Stitcher. 

NK News is an independent, privately owned specialist information source that focuses on North Korea.

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