Last week, Stephen Biegun (LSA ’86), U.S. special representative to North Korea, discussed the United States’ denuclearization efforts with North Korea during the Ford School’s Weiser Diplomacy Center launch series. Biegun emphasized the United States’ preparedness to negotiate with Kim Jung Un, stressing that time is running out. He remarked that denuclearization is of worldwide interest and that countries neighboring North Korea specifically play an instrumental role in communicating denuclearization efforts.
Moderated by John Ciorciari, director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center and associate professor at the Ford School, Biegun addressed audience questions ranging from the role of human rights in denuclearization efforts to economic repercussions of the efforts. “Biegun sought in his speech to underscore that the U.S. was ready to help North Korea’s economy once a deal is reached,” Nick Wadhams reported in the Bloomberg article “U.S.-North Korea Nuclear Talks Still Stalled, Trump’s Envoy Says.”
The talk received coverage from a myriad of international news outlets, including:
Bloomberg: U.S.-North Korea Nuclear Talks Still Stalled, Trump’s Envoy Says
Straits Times: US special envoy Stephen Biegun says North Korea blocking resumption of nuclear talks
Hankyoreh: Will N. Korea respond to Biegun’s persuasion and pressure?
MSN: Biegun urges N. Korea to halt development of WMDs, return to talks
Korea Herald: Top US officials urge NK to resume talks
Chosun Media: U.S. Fears Nuclear Arms Race in Northeast Asia
Korea Times: US envoy calls on North Korea to halt hostility, return to talks
Inquirer: Top US officials urge NK to resume talksTop US officials urge NK to resume talks
Yonhap News KR: U.S. envoy calls on N. Korea to halt hostility, return to talks