BU Now » North Korea

New N. Korean nuclear enrichment facility surprises S. Korea

Jo Breiner — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:02:47 +0000

The South Korean government was apparently caught by surprise when it was revealed that North Korea had built a uranium enrichment site near their main nuclear facility. International Relations professor William Keylor offers the following comment:

“The key intelligence challenge will be to discover how the North Korean government succeeded in what seems to be another important step toward becoming a serious threat to the security of North Asia.”

For additional commentary, contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

North Korea heir apparent

Jo Breiner — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 18:04:26 +0000

North Korean leader Kim Jong-il promoted his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, to rank of four-star general in the People’s Army. Also made a four-star general was the leader’s 64-year old sister, Kim Kyong-hui. Both moves set the stage for the future leadership of the country. International relations professor William Keylor gives his view on the move.

“As the 27-year old four-star general prepares to take power, he had better keep an eye on his four-star general aunt.

“This maneuvering in the palace, reminiscent of royal intrigue in 17th century England or France, would be hilarious if it did not involve a country with nuclear weapons and a delivery system.”

Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

Carter to free American in N.Korea

Dick Taffe — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:57:17 +0000

Former President Jimmy Carter is on another humanitarian mission, this time to free an American — 30-year-old Bostonian Aijalon Mahli Gomes (r.) – arrested in North Korea in January for illegally entering the communist nation and sentenced to eight years in prison. International relations Professor William Keylor, author of “A world of Nations: The International Order since 1945,” says the release seems to be all about North Korean domestic politics.

“There is obviously a furious struggle within North Korea over the succession to Kim Jong-il, and this latest gesture may represent a bid by the faction favoring better relations with the outside world to promote a resumption of the stalled six-party talks.”

Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

N.Koreans meet with UN Command

Dick Taffe — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 17:15:41 +0000

For the first time since the sinking of a South Korean warship in March, which Seoul blames on the North, officials from North Korea met with the American-led United Nations Command which enforces the armistice that ended the Korean War. International relations Professor William Keylor, author of “A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945,” said the whole affair has a back-to-the-future flavor to it, with face-to-face metings in Panmunjon 60 years after the Korean armistice and U.S. gunboat diplomacy 112 years after the Spanish-American War.

“What an engaging exercise in nostalgia for a bygone era, and a welcome distraction from the economic problems we face — unless the outcome is a new war on the Korean peninsula.”

Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

North v. South Korea tensions mount

Dick Taffe — Wed, 26 May 2010 20:46:44 +0000

With military and political tensions increasing daily on the Korean Peninsula, Secretary of State Clinton says America will stand by South Korea as it seeks UN action to redress North Korea’s apparent sinking of South Korean warship. International relations Professor Thomas Berger, a specialist on government and political culture in East Asia, says today’s situation has “disturbing parallels” to the 1930s when economic turmoil and political weakness let to events that resulted in World War II.

“The international community is faced with a series of unfortunate events, any one of which by themselves could be managed, but which taken together could prove catastrophic … We can only hope that the international community – including the United States – shows greater wisdom this time around.”

Contact Thomas Berger, 617-353-5351, tuberger@bu.edu

North/South Korea standoff

Dick Taffe — Thu, 20 May 2010 21:42:05 +0000

South Korea’s president says his country will take “resolute countermeasures” against neighboring North Korea for what an international investigation has found to be overwhelming evidence that a South Korean warship was sunk two months ago by a torpedo made in North Korea fired by a North Korean submarine. International relations Professor William Keylor, author of “A World of Nations: The International Order Since 1945,” says now is the time for the international community to make sure nothing rash happens next.

“Let’s hope cooler heads prevail in Seoul before we hear the cry ‘Remember the Cheonan!’ and witness the outbreak of another Korean War sixty years after the last one.”

Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

North Korean leader reportedly ill

Dick Taffe — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 21:12:26 +0000

Reports say North Korean leader Kim Jong Il is indeed ill, suffering from kidney failure requiring dialysis. International Relations Professor William Keylor, an authority on U.S. foreign policy, says the absence of a system of succession could become a critical obstacle to the resumption of the six-party nuclear disarmament talks.

“Reports of discontent within the North Korean ruling elite suggest that if the Kim Jong-Il becomes incapacitated and attempts to transfer authority to the number three son, there may be an attempt to prevent the transfer of power. That could mean a brutal struggle for succession.”

Contact William Keylor, 617-358-0197, wrkeylor@bu.edu

Social Sciences Prof. Tom Whalen comments on N. Korea pardon of American journalists

Jo Breiner — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 23:09:00 +0000

Obama to discuss Iran/North Korea

Tom Testa — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:29:13 +0000

With President Obama set to address the questions surrounding his handling of recent threats to our nation’s foreign and domestic policy, political expert Thomas Whalen is available for analysis.

Contact Thomas Whalen, 617-353-4785, tjw64@bu.edu

Gore to N.Korea to free reporters?

Dick Taffe — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 15:33:58 +0000

Former Vice President Gore may be dispatched to North Korea to negotiate the release of two American journalists who work for Gore’s Current TV. The reporters are on trial charged with illegally entering North Korea and could be sent to a labor camp if convicted. College of Communication journalism Professor Robert Zelnick, a former long-time ABC News correspondent, can discuss the situation.

Contact Robert Zelnick, 353-5007, bzelnick@bu.edu