Page 32 - NKHR Hawaii Conference 2023

PANEL DISCUSSION

DR. STEPHEN NOERPER

Ambassador Lee, these issues are complex. You’ve outlined a number in your address
today. We’ve heard some of that complexity in the testimonial a moment ago. And there
is the nuclear threat. You said something in your address that may have caught some
ears here, about looking at the nuclear issue from a human rights bent. T at there is a
vulnerability associated with human security. I’m wondering as you prioritize the plethora
of issues, the endangerment to women, the nuclear threat, and others, how do you see for
example the nuclear issue? It’s one we’ve heard less about but you’re providing a much
broader expanse to how we def ne these human rights concerns.

AMBASSADOR SHIN WHA LEE

Well, I think we have to, in the first place, think about what is the intention of the
North Korean regime in developing nuclear weapons. I think it is obvious. T ey want to
maintain their dynastic regime. It is already a third-generation dynasty and it appears they
are preparing for the fourth one, unfortunately, as they highlight their daughter, right?

So what I’m saying is what they are trying to do to maintain this Kim regime, as part of
their external strategy, is to build up their military muscle. And basically, they need some
help from China and to some extent Russia for now. I do believe their end state is they
want to make a normalization process with the United States. At the same time, they
want to keep their nuclear state status. I think that is the last thing we in South Korea
want to see. T erefore, I think denuclearization might be hard, as long as Kim Jong Un or
any member of the Kim dynasty continues to rule.

I think it is very important for South Korea to cooperate with the United States very
closely to get some red lines. We need to think about a different way of discussing or
negotiating about denuclearization. We’ve been working very hard for about two to
three decades to denuclearize North Korea, but it didn’t work. So we might need some
new kind of negotiation or process. However, I think the end state should be no arms
reduction talks between North Korea and the US without any consultation with South
Korea. I think that should be our red line. The US is our longest and most successful
alliance so I think the US should keep this in mind.

T e internal strategy of North Korea to maintain its regime is to keep very tight control
over its populace. They cannot allow any single opposition from within, because they
know their regime is pretty strong because it’s only maintained by very tight control and
the politics of fear. So if they allowed even a little bit of room for people to think about