Tensions between the United States and North Korea have reached a fever pitch. Since the beginning of 2017, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has tested a succession of ballistic missiles, raising fears that the country can now strike targets as far away as the U.S. with both conventional and nuclear weapons. In response, the U.S. is continuing to conduct military exercises with allies in the region while reaffirming the deployment of its THAAD missile defense system in South Korea. The new President of South Korea, Moon Jae-in, was shepherded into office partly with the promise of reopening a dialogue with North Korea but is now facing the very real prospect of a war. Talk of building up South Korea’s military capabilities has also spurred similar discussions in Japan, where talks about revising its pacifist constitution have gained more momentum as the threat from North Korea increases. Meanwhile, China is warning that military escalation will create more tension and instability in the region. 

Join Asia Society Northern California for a dialogue about the current situation in the region caused by North Korea’s nuclear program and how countries in Northeast Asia, as well as the United States, are responding to developments in the region. Panelists will explore the policy options available to the United States, South Korea, China, and Japan in dealing with North Korea’s nuclear program, as well as make assessments and predictions on how the situation will unfold in the coming months.

Speakers:
Paul Carroll, Senior Advisor, N Square
Ambassador Kathleen Stephens (Retired), William J. Perry Fellow, Walter H. Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center - Stanford University
Vice Admiral Robert L. Thomas, Jr., U.S. Navy (Retired), Senior Research Fellow, UC Institute on Global Conflict and Cooperation
Additional speakers TBD

Format:
5:30-6:00 Registration
6:00-7:30 Panel Discussion
7:30-8:00 Reception