ISDP’s Stockholm Korea Center Newsletter






On the Horizon for ISDP's Stockholm Korea Center 
The Center has successfully held the first part of its Nordic-Korea Next Generation Policy Experts Training Program. The Program welcomed five young professionals from the Nordic region for a three-day intensive training session which comprised multiple lectures and workshops to deepen their knowledge of contemporary South and North Korean issues, facilitate dialogue with senior European and South Korean colleagues on global security and shared challenges, and establish a lasting Europe–South Korea academic and policy network. 
 
Throughout the months of September and October the Center published ‘Strategic Talks’ – A Report by Stockholm Korea Center which summarized and compared the perspectives from the “Strategic Talks” series focusing on developments on the Korean Peninsula and regional and international security, aiming to identify commonalities and differences from the insights provided by our distinguished speakers. On 23 Sept Maj Gen (ret) Mats Engman participated in a podcast together with Ambassador Jakob Hallgren (former Swedish Ambassador to South Korea) were they discussed “The threat from North Korea.” The podcast was organized by Sweden’s “Folk och Försvar” organization, an independent organization focused on promoting security policy issues.  Additionally, Maj Gen (ret) Mats Engman, Head of the Korea Center, Riccardo Villa, Project Coordinator at the Korea Center, and Dr. Jagannath Panda from ISDP’s Indo-Pacific program published commentaries on what a possible Kamala Harris administration’s North Korea strategy would look like. Additionally, Mr. Riccardo Villa published an article analyzing the prospects for continued cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and its implications for the international community.

Latest Developments on the Korean Peninsula
On October 7, South Korea and the Philippines upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership during President Yoon Suk-yeol's state visit to Manila - the first in over a decade. The two nations agreed to bolster defense and security cooperation in response to escalating regional challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea and North Korea's nuclear activities. South Korea pledged to assist in modernizing the Philippine military by providing advanced equipment such as fighter jets, submarines, and missile systems. Enhanced maritime collaboration between their coastguards, enshrined in a Memorandum of Understanding, is also planned to combat transnational crime and improve search and rescue efforts. This partnership serves to counterbalance China's regional influence and aligns with South Korea's aim to expand its defense exports while aiding the Philippines in strengthening its military and energy infrastructure. 
  
In continuation of its policy shift aimed at rejecting unification with the South, North Korea has amended its constitution to remove clauses advocating for peaceful reunification, officially designating South Korea as its "principal enemy." The revised constitution ambiguously outlines North Korea's territorial boundaries, particularly maritime borders, potentially justifying future aggressive actions. This development heightens tensions on the Korean Peninsula, complicates diplomatic efforts, and increases the risk of military confrontations, especially around disputed maritime areas. North Korea's deepening alignment with Russia and its constitutional commitment to its nuclear arsenal further exacerbate regional instability. 
  
Meanwhile, Sweden has as of September resumed diplomatic operations in North Korea, becoming the first Western nation to do so since most diplomats left during the pandemic. Swedish diplomats have returned to Pyongyang, indicating a cautious reopening by North Korea to Western engagement. This move could lead to other countries re-establishing a diplomatic presence, although challenges remain due to logistical issues like embassy accommodations. Sweden has historically acted as an intermediary between North Korea and Western countries and continues to serve as the protecting power for U.S. citizens in the DPRK. The gradual return of diplomats suggests a potential, albeit limited, thawing of North Korea's isolationist stance. 

Maj Gen (ret) Mats Engman 
Head of ISDP's Stockholm Korea Center and Distinguished Military Fellow 

Publications
‘Strategic Talks’ – A Report by Stockholm Korea Center  
In June, the ISDP Korea Center launched “Strategic Talks,” an online series focusing on developments on the Korean Peninsula and regional and international security. The inaugural session on June 4, 2024, featured Professor Ramon Pacheco-Pardo from King’s College London and Dr. John Nilsson-Wright from the University of Cambridge. Subsequent sessions included talks on June 19 with Mr. Heino Klink, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for East Asia, and Mr. Frank Aum, Senior Expert on the Democratic People´s Republic of Korea at the U.S. Institute of Peace, as well as a final talk on June 20 with Lieutenant General (ret.) Chun In-Bum, Distinguished Military Fellow at ISDP, and Dr. Lee Sang Hyun from the Sejong Institute. All three talks were moderated by Maj. Gen. (ret) Mats Engman, Head of the Korea Center at ISDP.

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Kamala Harris on North Korea: Change or Continuation? 
Despite many efforts and different strategies, both previous and current U.S. administrations have been unsuccessful in preventing the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from developing its nuclear and missile programs, a main objective of the U.S. policy on DPRK. 

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Institutionalizing the Axis of Upheaval: The Russia-DPRK Strategic Partnership 

Russia and North Korea have formalized a strategic partnership pledging mutual military support, reflecting their shared opposition to the current global order. The mutual economic and military benefits they stand to gain amid isolation, along with the potential for greater involvement from China despite its current concerns, call for a more coordinated international response to these interconnected threats.

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