From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un: nuclear impasse or diplomatic opportunity

Er-Win, T. and Govindasamy, G. (2012) From Kim Jong Il to Kim Jong Un: nuclear impasse or diplomatic opportunity. Asia Europe Journal, 10 (4). pp. 301-306. ISSN 1610-2932, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10308-012-0330-6.

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Abstract

The recent death of Kim Jong Il and the succession of his son, Kim Jong Un, as Supreme Leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea leaves the Northeast Asian region at a crossroads. Given the younger Kim’s lack of political experience, it is reasonable to believe that his priority will be on consolidation of his political and military power base in Pyongyang. More recently, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) has sent mixed signals with regard to its intentions. On the one hand, North Korea has agreed to a moratorium of its nuclear activities and has even invited the IAEA to inspect its nuclear facilities; at the same time, however, the DPRK has also announced its plan to launch a satellite in mid April, using technology derived from the Taepodong missile. Set against this backdrop, we underline and comparatively assess the importance of the USA, the Republic of Korea, and China, all of which will be going through a political transition in 2012. We conclude that Seoul and Beijing are in the best position to reopen the process of dialogue with the DPRK.

Item Type:	Article
Funders:	UNSPECIFIED
Additional Information:	University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Kim Jong Un; Democratic People’s Republic of Korea
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions
Divisions:	Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Ms. Wati Yusuf
Date Deposited:	27 Oct 2014 04:26
Last Modified:	27 Oct 2014 04:26
URI:	http://eprints.um.edu.my/id/eprint/10082

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