Date : March 18, 2024
Examining the Situation in North Korea (Professor Atsuhito Isozaki, Keio University )
post date : 2024.03.01
On February 15, North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong, a deputy department director of the Worker’s Party of Korea, released a statement via the state-run Korean Central News Agency calling for closer relations with Japan. The statement suggested that if Japan “does not lay such a stumbling block as the already settled abduction issue in the future way for mending the bilateral relations,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida could visit North Korea. However, this indicates that North Korea considers the abduction issue already resolved.
Currently, the two countries are in a stalemate over issues including the abductions and North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile programs, and the Japanese Government has indicated a desire to engage in talks to deal with these issues through a summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Is it possible that North Korea will change its existing positions on these issues?
The FPCJ has invited Keio University Professor Atsuhito Isozaki, an expert on North Korean politics, to discuss the current situation of North Korea, its domestic politics, changes to its foreign policies, and impact on Japan.
■Please note that you cannot physically attend this briefing, as it will be a Zoom webinar.
■Date： March 18 (Mon), 2024, 11:00-12:30 (Deadline for application: Noon, Fri, March 15)
■Theme： Examining the Situation in North Korea
■Briefer： Professor Atsuhito Isozaki, Keio University
■Language：Japanese, with consecutive English interpretation
As in our standard press briefings, there will be a Q&A session at the end.
*In principle, questions will only be accepted from members of the foreign press.
■Members of the Foreign Press:
Please send any questions for the briefer or topics you are interested in to cp@fpcjpn.or.jp by noon on Wednesday, March 13.
As there will only be a limited amount of time to ask questions during the briefing, we will collect questions and provide them to the briefer in advance.
■How to Apply: Please refer to the email we sent.
*We will not be accepting applications by email.
*Embassy representatives and FPCJ supporting members may also watch the briefing as observers (admission free).