In this interview, Professor Yangmo Ku explores the complexities of North and South Korean relations, addressing issues such as North Korea’s nuclear threat, arms build-up, and shifting perceptions of South Korea. The discussion covers regional dynamics, including North Korea’s cooperation with Russia, ASEAN’s stance, and Japan-South Korea security cooperation. Professor Ku also examines the potential influence of global powers like China and Russia on North Korean policies and narratives.
Content
- Impact of North Korea Severing Land Connections with South Korea
- North Korea’s Shift to Viewing South Korea as its “Primary Foe”
- Interest in North Korea Amongst South Korean Youth
- Role of the DMZ, Provocations, and the UN Command
- South Korea’s Response to North Korea’s Arms Build-up
- Impact of South Korea Acquiring Nuclear Weapons
- Cooperation Between North Korea and Russia
- South Korea’s Strategy for North Korea’s Nuclear Threat
- Implications of North Korean Nuclear Weapons for China
- ASEAN’s Position on the Korean Peninsula
- North and South Korean Perspectives on NATO’s Role in the Indo-Pacific
- Japan-South Korea Security Cooperation in Response to North Korea
- Key Influences on North Korean Leadership
- Can Putin or Xi Mitigate North Korea’s Aggressive Narratives and Policies?
- Russia-China-North Korea Triangle: Future Security Outlook
*** At 36:07, there is a two-second audio omission due to some unknown Internet issues. Professor Ku talks about the second option for South Korea, developing its own nuclear weapons.
Yangmo Ku
Yangmo Ku is the Chair of the History & Political Science Department and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Norwich University, USA. He also serves as the Associate Director of the Peace & War Center at Norwich and as the Editor of the Journal of Peace and War Studies. Ku’s research focuses on North and South Korean politics, East Asian security, U.S. foreign policy, and the politics of memory and reconciliation in East Asia and Europe. His co-authored book, titled Politics in North and South Korea: Political Development, Economy, and Foreign Relations.
Selected Publications:
Ku, Y. (2024). Analyzing Security Conditions Surrounding the Denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, 2019-2024. In T. Kwak, New Approaches to the Resolution of the Korean Peninsula Issues, ed. Tae-hwan Kwak (pp. 69-115). Korean Studies Information. https://product.kyobobook.co.kr/detail/S000213668634
Ku, Y. (2019). A Treasured Sword of Justice? Explaining the Key Reasons behind North Korea’s Nuclear Development and US Policy Implications. Journal of Peace and War Studies, Inaugural Issue, pp. 45-64. https://archives.norwich.edu/digital/collection/jpws/id/6/rec/1
Ku, Y., Lee, I., & Woo, J. (2018). Politics in North and South Korea: Political development, economy, and foreign relations. Routledge, Taylor & Francis Group. https://www.routledge.com/Politics-in-North-and-South-Korea-Political-Development-Economy-and-Foreign-Relations/Ku-Lee-Woo/p/book/9781138647503
Ku, Y (2015). National Interest or Transnational Alliances? Japanese Policy on the Comfort Women Issue. Journal of East Asian Studies, 15: 2, pp. 243-269. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-east-asian-studies/article/national-interest-or-transnational-alliances-japanese-policy-on-the-comfort-women-issue/FF362B60B3F74DF2480875E2A6DE02C3
