Description:
The Annual Conference of the International Council on Korean Studies and the Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies jointly with The Committee for Human Rights in North Korea (HRNK), Seoul National University Alumni Group, the Korea Economic Institute of America, and the One Korea Foundation cordially invite you to:
8:15 a.m. - Registration
8:45 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. - Opening Remarks
Speakers:
General Byung Kwan Kim, ROKA (Retired), Co-Chairman, Council on U.S.-Korean Security Studies (ROK Council)
General John H. Tilelli, Jr., USA (Retired), Co-Chairman, Council on U.S.-Korean Security Studies (U.S. Council)
Dr. Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr., President, International Council of Korean Studies and Angelo State University
Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu, Executive Director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
Mr. Troy Stangarone, Korea Economic Institute
9:00 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. - Panel I. North and South Korea: Economic Reconciliation?
Moderator:
General & Dr. Jae Chang Kim, ROKA (Retired)
Papers:
“Sanctions, Inter-Korean Relations and North Korea's Denuclearization," Dr. Ihn-hwi Park, Ehwa Womans University
“The North Korean Economic System: Challenges and Issues," Mr. Kyle Ferrier, Korea Economic Institute of America
"Economic Challenges in the ROK-US Alliance," Mr. Troy Stangarone, Korea Economic Institute of America
Discussants:
Dr. Bruce E. Bechtol, Jr., Angelo State University and ICKS
Dr. Il Hwa Jung, Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies
11:30 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. - Luncheon and Luncheon Speech
“Security and Unification Issues on the Korean Peninsula," Mr. Stephen E. Biegun, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea, U.S. Department of State
Introduced by General John H. Tilelli, Jr., USA (Retired), Co-Chairman, Council on U.S.-Korean Security Studies (U.S. Council)
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. - Panel II: Four Power Relations on the Korean Peninsula
Moderator:
Mr. David Maxwell, Foundation for Defense of Democracies
Papers:
"Japan’s Role in Korean Security Issues," Mr. James Durand, International Council on Korean Studies
"China’s Role in Inter-Korea Relations," Mr. Gordon Chang, Forbes.com
“North Korea and Regional Security," Dr. Nam-Sung Huh, Korea Institute for Military Affairs
Discussants:
William Newcomb, former member, UN Panel of Experts
Lt. General Kap Jin Lee, ROK Marine Corps (Retired)
Dr. Sukjoon Yoon, Captain, ROK Navy (Retired), KIMA
3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. - Panel III: Human Rights and the Future of the Korean Peninsula
Moderator:
General John H. Tilelli, Jr., USA (Retired), Co-Chairman, Council on U.S.-Korean Security Studies (U.S. Council)
Papers:
"The Future of Human Rights in North Korea," Mr. George Hutchinson, International Council on Korean Studies
"Tying Human Rights to US-NK-ROK Negotiations," Mr. Greg Scarlatoiu, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea
"The ROK-US Alliance and Human Rights," Dr. Taewoo Kim, Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies
Discussants:
Dr. Nicholas Eberstadt, American Enterprise Institute
Dr. Jaekap Ryoo, Council on Korea-U.S. Security Studies
5:00 p.m. - End of the Conference
This report provides an abbreviated update to our previous reports on a long-term political prison commonly identified by former prisoners and researchers as Kwan-li-so No. 25 by providing details of activity observed during 2021–2023. This report was originally published on Tearline at https://www.tearline.mil/public_page/prison-camp-25.
This report explains how the Kim regime organizes and implements its policy of human rights denial using the Propaganda and Agitation Department (PAD) to preserve and strengthen its monolithic system of control. The report also provides detailed background on the history of the PAD, as well as a human terrain map that details present and past PAD leadership.
HRNK's latest satellite imagery report analyzes a 5.2 km-long switchback road, visible in commercial satellite imagery, that runs from Testing Tunnel No. 1 at North Korea's Punggye-ri nuclear test facility to the perimeter of Kwan-li-so (political prison camp) no. 16.
This report proposes a long-term, multilateral legal strategy, using existing United Nations resolutions and conventions, and U.S. statutes that are either codified or proposed in appended model legislation, to find, freeze, forfeit, and deposit the proceeds of the North Korean government's kleptocracy into international escrow. These funds would be available for limited, case-by-case disbursements to provide food and medical care for poor North Koreans, and--contingent upon Pyongyang's progress
For thirty years, U.S. North Korea policy have sacrificed human rights for the sake of addressing nuclear weapons. Both the North Korean nuclear and missile programs have thrived. Sidelining human rights to appease the North Korean regime is not the answer, but a fundamental flaw in U.S. policy. (Published by the National Institute for Public Policy)
North Korea’s forced labor enterprise and its state sponsorship of human trafficking certainly continued until the onset of the COVID pandemic. HRNK has endeavored to determine if North Korean entities responsible for exporting workers to China and Russia continued their activities under COVID as well.
George Hutchinson's The Suryong, the Soldier, and Information in the KPA is the second of three building blocks of a multi-year HRNK project to examine North Korea's information environment. Hutchinson's thoroughly researched and sourced report addresses the circulation of information within the Korean People's Army (KPA). Understanding how KPA soldiers receive their information is needed to prepare information campaigns while taking into account all possible contingenc
This report is part of a comprehensive long-term project undertaken by HRNK to use satellite imagery and former prisoner interviews to shed light on human suffering in North Korea by monitoring activity at political prison facilities throughout the nation. This is the second HRNK satellite imagery report detailing activity observed during 2015 to 2021 at a prison facility commonly identified by former prisoners and researchers as “Kwan-li-so No. 14 Kaech’ŏn” (39.646810, 126.117058) and
This report is part of a comprehensive long-term project undertaken by HRNK to use satellite imagery and former prisoner interviews to shed light on human suffering in North Korea by monitoring activity at civil and political prison facilities throughout the nation. This study details activity observed during 1968–1977 and 2002–2021 at a prison facility commonly identified by former prisoners and researchers as "Kyo-hwa-so No. 3, T'osŏng-ni" and endeavors to e
This report is part of a comprehensive long-term project undertaken by HRNK to use satellite imagery and former detainee interviews to shed light on human suffering in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, more commonly known as North Korea) by monitoring activity at political prison facilities throughout the nation. This report provides an abbreviated update to our previous reports on a long-term political prison commonly identified by former prisoners and researchers as Kwan-li-so
Through satellite imagery analysis and witness testimony, HRNK has identified a previously unknown potential kyo-hwa-so long-term prison-labor facility at Sŏnhwa-dong (선화동) P’ihyŏn-gun, P’yŏngan-bukto, North Korea. While this facility appears to be operational and well maintained, further imagery analysis and witness testimony collection will be necessary in order to irrefutably confirm that Sŏnhwa-dong is a kyo-hwa-so.
"North Korea’s Long-term Prison-Labor Facility Kyo-hwa-so No. 8, Sŭngho-ri (승호리) - Update" is the latest report under a long-term project employing satellite imagery analysis and former political prisoner testimony to shed light on human suffering in North Korea's prison camps.
Human Rights in the Democratic Republic of Korea: The Role of the United Nations" is HRNK's 50th report in our 20-year history. This is even more meaningful as David Hawk's "Hidden Gulag" (2003) was the first report published by HRNK. In his latest report, Hawk details efforts by many UN member states and by the UN’s committees, projects and procedures to promote and protect human rights in the DPRK. The report highlights North Korea’s shifts in its approach
South Africa’s Apartheid and North Korea’s Songbun: Parallels in Crimes against Humanity by Robert Collins underlines similarities between two systematically, deliberately, and thoroughly discriminatory repressive systems. This project began with expert testimony Collins submitted as part of a joint investigation and documentation project scrutinizing human rights violations committed at North Korea’s short-term detention facilities, conducted by the Committee for Human Rights