Security Situation on the Korean Peninsula and the Way Ahead

September 2018 No Comments

“Security Situation on the Korean Peninsula and the Way Ahead”

Speaker: Maxwell, D. (Foundation for Defense of Democracies)

Date: 13 September 2018

Speaker Session Preview

SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Mr. David Maxwell (Foundation for Defense of Democracies) as a part of its SMA INDOPACOM Speaker Series. Mr. Maxwell first stated that US decision-makers have been so focused on North Korea’s nuclear program and recent summits that they often forget the importance of stepping back to look at the security situation as a whole and at what Kim Jong-un really wants. He discussed the Kim family regime’s strategy, as well as the “Big 5” components of the Korean Peninsula situation. He also presented four key questions to consider during the upcoming summit between Moon Jae-in and Kim Jong-un. Furthermore, he examined North Korea’s negotiating strategy, other potential post-summit issues, and possible paths to unification. Mr. Maxwell concluded his presentation by stating that the only way we will see an end to North Korea’s nuclear program and criminal activities is “through the achievement of unification and the establishment of a United Republic of Korea that is secure and stable, non-nuclear, economically vibrant, and unified under a liberal constitutional form of government determined by the Korean people.”