|
| Tweet
Tong Kim retired from the U.S. Department of State as the senior Korean language interpreter in June 2005 after 27 years of service, during which he interpreted for four American presidents – Reagan, Bush, Clinton, and W. Bush. He also interpreted for Secretary of State Albright’s meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Il in 2000. He participated in almost all bilateral negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang until his retirement, after which he spent two years in Seoul doing research and writing. He is also a regular biweekly columnist of The Korea Times since January 2006, writing extensively on North Korea. During his stay in Seoul, Professor Kim taught three courses at Korea University. At the Graduate University of North Korean Studies and other institutes, he provided special lectures on U.S. policy toward the two Koreas. Professor Kim has written numerous pieces on the North Korean nuclear issue and U.S. diplomacy towards the two Koreas, and given over 45 press interviews discussing the issues of the North Korean nuclear program and the U.S.-Korea alliance. He has also provided more than 40 special lectures and speeches to academic and research institutes on U.S.-North Korean relations. Tong Kim received a master’s degree from SAIS in 1973, and has a B.A. in English from Korea University.
