Dr. John Park, formerly of Goldman Sachs and now director of the Korea Working Group at the U.S. Institute of Peace, explores North Korea’s leadership transition in the context of Chinese and North Korean party connections. Dr. Park addresses the impact of recent events and Chinese foreign policy toward the Peninsula for media and business managing strategic risk.

Thursday, February 3

North Korea’s Leadership Transition: The China Connection
Executive Policy Breakfast

with
Dr. John Park
Director, Korea Working Group
U.S. Institute of Peace

North Korea is engaged in an accelerated leadership transition from Kim Jong-il to Kim Jong-un, the youngest of his three sons. Kim Jong-il made two trips last year to China to secure Beijing’s cooperation with the transition process and the autumn Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK) conference was aimed at facilitating this leadership succession process. Aligned with the WPK—largely through joint economic development projects—the Communist Party of China (CPC) has become a steady supporter, as Beijing further implements its policy toward North Korea at a time of heightened tensions. Dr. John Park of the U.S. Institute of Peace will examine Beijing’s approach, the implications of deepening CPC-WPK ties for the succession process, and its relevancy for the United States and South Korea.