Director Kim Jun-hyung: "The Biden Administration Will Not Bring Failed 'Strategic Patience' Toward North Korea"

Unlike the Obama Administration, North Korea Continues to Strengthen Nuclear Armament... "Difficult to Recognize as Policy"

Kim Jun-hyung, President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, attended an invited lecture by the National Coalition for Economic Democratization and Peaceful Unification (Minpyeongryeon) held at the National Assembly Members' Office Building on the 9th, delivering a lecture on "Analysis of the U.S. Presidential Election Results and Prospects for Korea-U.S. Relations." Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "Strategic patience toward North Korea is a failed strategy even within the Democratic Party, so they will not adopt it themselves."

Kim Jun-hyung, President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, stated this on the 9th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building during the 'Analysis of the U.S. Presidential Election Results and Prospects for Korea-U.S. Relations' hosted by the Democratic Peace People's Solidarity (Minpyeongryeon). He explained, "During the Obama administration, North Korea was not a nuclear-armed state, so it was strategically neglected." He analyzed that since North Korea has been strengthening its nuclear armament after the Obama administration, the previous policy is unlikely to be accepted by the new administration.

Regarding the North Korea policy stance of Joe Biden, the Democratic candidate confirmed as the winner of the U.S. presidential election, Kim assessed it as a "positive (+) factor." Biden mentioned during the presidential debate that he could meet North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un on the condition that North Korea agrees to reduce its nuclear capabilities.

Kim emphasized, "South Korea must utilize 120% of its capacity to bring North Korea to the negotiating table," adding, "However, the Democratic Party prefers a bottom-up approach, and what North Korea hates most is working-level negotiations, which, along with human rights issues, are their weaknesses." He explained that if North Korea-U.S. working-level talks proceed, they must go through procedures such as verification, inspection, and declaration.

Furthermore, regarding the trilateral relationship among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, Kim predicted that President-elect Biden might intervene to mediate South Korea-Japan relations. Kim said, "Biden seems likely to mediate South Korea-Japan relations," and explained, "One of the major challenges is whether the Biden administration will lean toward Japan or whether we can utilize our mediation capabilities."

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