From Pluto to Pyongyang, and Back with commentary by James Church.

“In 2006, Pluto was downgraded from a planet to a dwarf planet, failing to meet all the criteria of a (then) newly established definition of planet. These days, some should like to do the same with North Korea…” Click here to read the full article.

As US-DPRK relations continue to deteriorate, Robert Carlin encourages more careful analysis and commitment when navigating North Korea’s signals. Read the latest at USKI’s 38 North.

The U.S.- Korea Institute’s 38 North experts continue to watch nuclear test site in anticipation of a fifth nuclear test before North Korea party congress. For more information, check out the 38 North exclusive, “Sohae Satellite Launching Station: Activity at the Vertical Engine Test Stand” with analysis by Jack Liu and Joseph S. Bermudez, Jr.

Ambassador Stephen Warren Bosworth died of pancreatic cancer in his home in Boston on Monday, January 4, 2016.

Stephen Bosworth was a career American diplomat and was chairman of the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) and held an appointment as a Senior Fellow at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. He was also served as the Payne Lecturer at the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University in 2014.

Ambassador Bosworth served as Dean of The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University from 2001-2013. His administration at Fletcher is credited with increasing the size of the Fletcher faculty and student body while securing the financial soundness of the school during a period of economic uncertainty. He oversaw the creation of new degree programs that have significantly expanded the scope of The Fletcher School’s teaching, research, and global outreach. During his tenure as Dean at the Fletcher School, Ambassador Bosworth also served President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as United States Special Representative for North Korea Policy from 2009 to 2011.

“Stephen Bosworth was among the best diplomats of his generation. A consummate professional and a student of history, he managed American foreign policy skillfully at critical junctures and left an indelible imprint on America’s policy toward Asia,” said Vali Nasr, dean of Johns Hopkins SAIS, “He was a transformational dean at the Fletcher School at Tufts University where he oversaw development of new programs. Insightful, kind and considerate, he was a great influence on friends and colleagues and generations of students who studied international affairs.”

read more …

On the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the 1994 US-DPRK Agreed Framework, the US-Korea Institute at SAIS invites you to join us in a special program to remember the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, which brought about this historic agreement, and discussion of policy options for the US, South Korea and Japan for dealing with North Korea’s nuclear and WMD programs now and in the future.

Featuring: 

• Stephen Bosworth, Chairman, US-Korea Institute at SAIS, former KEDO Executive Director, US Ambassador to Republic of Korea
• Robert Gallucci, former Ambassador At-Large and Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs
• Sung-Joo Han,Chairman, International Policy Studies Institute of Korea (IPSIKOR), former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Korea
• James Laney,  former US Ambassador to Republic of Korea
• Yukio Takeuchi, former Justice, Supreme Court of Japan, former Vice Foreign Minister, Japan

Discussants:

• Thomas Hubbard, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and US Ambassador to the Republic of Korea
• Dan Poneman, former Senior Director for Non-Proliferation and Export Controls, National Security Council and Deputy Secretary of Energy
• Gary Samore, Executive Director, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, White House Coordinator for Arms Control and Weapons of Mass Destruction
• General Gary E. Luck, former Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command (Korea)/Combined Forces Command/US Forces Korea

And moderated by Joel S. Wit, Senior Fellow, US-Korea Institute at SAIS, former Agreed Framework Coordinator

This program is free and open to the public and press. For more information to RSVP, visit here.

Wednesday, Oct 22, 2014 – Awkward Engagement: Reflections on Doctors Without Borders’ Work in North Korea

Monday, Oct 20, 2014 – The 20th Anniversary of the 1994 US-DPRK Agreed Framework