Special Guest Lecture Series at UW–Madison Examines US – North Korea Relations

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: 10/17/2005 CONTACT: Christine Merritt, Center for East Asian Studies, cmerritt@wisc.edu SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE SERIES AT UW-MADISON EXAMINES US- NORTH KOREA RELATIONS Madison, WI – Although an agreement in principal concerning dismantlement of North Korea’s nuclear programs was reached last month in six-nation talks, North Korea is still identified by the U.S. as one of this country’s top national security risks. Just how worried should Americans be about North Korea? To answer that question and to help the UW–Madison campus and greater Madison area community gain a better understanding of North Korea, the UW–Madison’s Center of East Asia will sponsor a multi-lecture series, “Understanding (and Misunderstanding) North Korea.” The series is part of the Center’s new Korean Studies Initiative, which is devoted to improving and expanding Korean language and area studies offerings on campus, and making those resources available to the community through outreach events such as this lecture series. According to the Center, there is heightened interest in Korean language and area studies among students. In response to the interest, Korean language courses have been expanded this year to include third year level classes. A special topics course, “Modern Korea: North & South,” is being taught this fall and is linked to the multi-lecture series. “Some Americans think of Korea as an obscure place, but in fact, South Korea is the seventh largest trading partner of the U.S. and North Korea is an important player affecting the future peace and security of the United States,” says Hope Rennie, Assistant Director of the Center for East Asian Studies. “Our students, especially those interested in careers in business or in international relations, realize that they need to know more about Korea in order to be ready for the challenges ahead.” The multi-lecture series, sponsored by the Center and Korea Economic Institute, a non-profit educational organization based in Washington, D.C., will focus on perceptions and misperceptions of North Korea within the U.S. government, media, and academia, and among non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Speakers will address such issues as: — What do we really know about North Korea, given that information is so limited and unreliable? — How is this information filtered through the preconceptions and biases of those engaged in this discourse? — What is going on with North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and the six-party talks? — What about famine and human rights abuses in North Korea? — Why does the North Korean leadership act the way they do and how can we best respond? Dates of the series and speakers include: Thurs., Oct. 20, 4:00 p.m. 5120 Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue, Madison “What Do We Really Know about North Korea?” John Merrill, Chief of the Northeast Asia Division, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, U.S. Department of State Thurs., Nov. 3, 4:00 p.m. 4151 Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue, Madison “U.S. Media Discourses about North Korea” Daniel Sneider, Foreign Affairs Columnist, San Jose Mercury News Also co-sponsored by the Department of East Asian Languages and Literature, and the University Lectures Committee Tues., Nov. 15, 4:00 p.m. 2120 Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue, Madison “The Challenge of a Nuclear North Korea” Scott Snyder, Senior Associate, the Asia Foundation and the Pacific Forum of the Center for International and Strategic Studies Thurs., Dec. 1, 4:00 p.m. 4151 Grainger Hall, 975 University Avenue “ North Korea Beyond the Nukes: Human Rights, Humanitarian Aid, and the Economy” Gordon Flake, Executive Director, The Maureen and Mike Mansfield Foundation, and editor of Paved with Good Intentions: The NGO Experience in North Korea. XXX