Second ROK-US Strategic Forum 2017
The KF and the US think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) will jointly hold the ROK-US Strategic Forum 2017 on September 5 and 6 at CSIS headquarters in Washington, D.C.
The forum was launched late last year, welcoming governmental and non-governmental policy experts of the two countries in the fields of politics, diplomacy, security, economics, and trade. Through open and closed-door sessions in the CSIS conference room, the two sides will discuss ROK-US policy, seek new means of cooperation, and strengthen future-oriented bilateral relations.
Being the first such get-together since the inauguration of new presidential administrations in both countries, the forum will focus on the theme of “Now and the Future of the ROK-US Alliance.” Open sessions held on September 5 will deal with “Opportunities and Challenges for the Alliance,” ”Northeast Asia and the Korea-US Alliance,” and ”The Future of US-ROK Economic and Trade Cooperation.” The second day’s closed-door session will be centered on North Korea, with the discussions themed “Maximum Pressure and Engagement” and “The North Korean Regime—Five Year Assessment.”
The Forum will welcome more than 30 leading figures from the two countries. Korean participants will include Yonsei University Professor Kim Ki-jung; former Senior Presidential Secretary for Unification, Foreign Affairs and National Security Strategy Park Sun-won; Seoul National University Professor Bark Tae-Ho; Director General for Unification Policy of the Ministry of Unification Sung Ki-young; Seoul National University Professor Emeritus Yoon Young-kwan, and Ewha Womans University Professor Choi Byung-il. The US will be represented by CSIS President and CEO John Hamre, CSIS Korea Chair Victor Cha, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, Congresswoman Stephanie Murphy, Hudson Institute Director Michael Pillsbury, former Assistant US Trade Representative Wendy Cutler, US Special Representative for North Korea Joseph Yun, former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury Daniel Glaser and others.
The upcoming Forum will offer the two allies a timely opportunity for in-depth discussion between the new administrations, building upon their considerable policy-making experience covering North Korea, the economy, and various other fields.