Why is August a particularly tense month in the Korean Peninsula? What is Kim Jong-un trying to achieve by showcasing his nuclear muscle? Journalist, Pulitzer nominee, and Global Fellow of the Wilson Center, Jean H. Lee, shares an insightful analysis of the North Korean crisis.
TALKS & PRESENTATIONs
UPCOMING
July 2026 • Jean will be moderating a conversation with the journalist and author Sara Kehaulani Goo on journalism, cultural identity, storytelling, and new paths for connection and community impact. East-West Center, July 9, at 6 pm.
RECENT Events
June 2026 • Jean moderated a private discussion on North Korea’s relationships with Russia and Iran with the National Committee on North Korea in Washington, DC.
May 2026 • Jean moderated a private roundtable discussion with GEN Xavier T. Brunson, commander of the United Nations Command, at the East-West Center.
May 2026 • Jean hosted LTGEN Scott Winter, deputy commander of the United Nations Command, at the East- West Center for a private discussion.
December 2025 • Jean moderated a private roundtable discussion with US Amb. Joseph Yun (ret.) and Amb. Cho Yun-je (ret.) of the Republic of Korea, held at the East-West Center in honor of the ROK-US Alliance.
Oct. 24, 2025 • Posthoc Salons, New York City • Jean Lee joined Susan Mactavish Best for a lively Posthoc Salons discussion about North Korea.
Oct. 23, 2025 • Asia Society Policy Institute • In the lead up to President Donald Trump’s trip to #Asia, the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York hosted a private roundtable discussion on #NorthKorea policy and prospects for #diplomacy, featuring Danny Russel of Asia Society Policy Institute and Jean Lee of the East-West Center, in conversation with Rorry Daniels and other notable policy experts and Track II practitioners.
Oct. 22, 2025 • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: Rethinking America's North Korea Strategy: As President Donald Trump prepares for his upcoming trip to South Korea to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may be on the agenda. South Korean President Lee Jae Myung first suggested the meeting during his recent trip to Washington. Trump and Kim seem open to the possibility, with one major caveat: Kim has stated publicly that discussions of denuclearization are off the table. Whether or not that meeting occurs, North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal and deepening relationships with Russia and China are a persistent challenge for Washington. How should the second Trump administration alter, or maintain, its approach to North Korea? Is Washington reading Kim and the internal politics of Pyongyang correctly? And what role should China and South Korea play in U.S. strategy? Aaron David Miller spoke with Jean H. Lee, the presidential chair of the East-West Center, and Joel S. Wit, a distinguished fellow in Asian and Security Studies at the Stimson Center, on these and other issues.
FEATURED TALKS
Featured
ARCHIVE
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2026
- Jul 7, 2026 EWC Insights: Sara Kehaulani Goo: A Journalist's Journey Jul 7, 2026
- May 15, 2026 Commander of US and UN Forces in Korea Discusses Alliance Cooperation and Regional Security at East-West Center May 15, 2026
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2025
- Dec 2, 2025 EWC: Deepening & Advancing the ROK-US Alliance Dec 2, 2025
- Oct 25, 2025 PostHoc Salon on North Korea Oct 25, 2025
- May 15, 2025 GEN Xavier T. Brunson joins us on East-West Day for a conversation about Korea May 15, 2025
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2024
- Dec 1, 2024 East-West Center hosts Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Dec 1, 2024
- Oct 26, 2024 East-West Center: Women of Impact Awards 2024 Oct 26, 2024
- Sep 26, 2024 Atlantic Council's Global Future Forum: Reporters at risk Sep 26, 2024
- Jun 25, 2024 East-West Center: International Media Conference 2024 Jun 25, 2024
- Jan 10, 2024 East-West Center: Assignment Pyongyang: A Journalist’s Perspective on Life in Kim Jong Un’s North Korea Jan 10, 2024
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2023
- Jul 27, 2023 House Foreign Affairs Committee: Illicit IT: Bankrolling Kim Jong Un Jul 27, 2023
- May 21, 2023 Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital May 21, 2023
- Apr 13, 2023 Korea Society: The North Korean Cyber Threat Apr 13, 2023
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2022
- Oct 21, 2022 Indiana University: IKS Conference on the US-Korea Relationship Oct 21, 2022
- Sep 28, 2022 University of Georgia: US-Korea Security Forum Sep 28, 2022
- Sep 26, 2022 BBC: The Lazarus Heist LIVE in New York City Sep 26, 2022
- Sep 25, 2022 BBC World Service: The Lazarus Heist: Live in New York Sep 25, 2022
- Jun 20, 2022 East Asia Institute: Financing Pyongyang’s Provocations - Kim Jong Un’s Cyber Strategy Jun 20, 2022
- Feb 18, 2022 Duke University: A Look Inside North Korea's Kim Regime Feb 18, 2022
- Feb 15, 2022 NCNK/Network 20/20: South Korea’s Election and Its Impact on U.S.-ROK-DPRK Relations Feb 15, 2022
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2021
- Sep 17, 2021 Hudson Institute: Kim Jong Un and the Northeast Asian Arms Race Sep 17, 2021
- Sep 6, 2021 CDA Institute: Enhancing engagement with North Korea: What Canada can do Sep 6, 2021
- Mar 4, 2021 Korea Society: New Developments in Inter-Korea Relations Mar 4, 2021
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2020
- Mar 22, 2020 War on the Rocks: COVID in North Korea Mar 22, 2020
- Mar 19, 2020 NBR: South Korea in a Challenging Maritime Security Environment Mar 19, 2020
- Mar 18, 2020 The National Bureau of Asian Research: South Korea in a Challenging Maritime Security Environment Mar 18, 2020
- Mar 18, 2020 Wilson Center: Geopolitical Implications of the Coronavirus for the Indo-Pacific Mar 18, 2020
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2019
- Sep 9, 2019 Need to Know: Negotiations and Love Notes - Where Do The North Korea Nuclear Talks Stand? Sep 9, 2019
- Feb 6, 2019 Wilson Center: Book launch of Van Jackson's "On the Brink" Feb 6, 2019
- Jan 30, 2019 Wilson Center: Geopolitical Implications of a New Era on the Korean Peninsula Jan 30, 2019
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2018
- Nov 22, 2018 National Geographic: Inside North Korea's Dynasty Nov 22, 2018
- Nov 16, 2018 Moon Jae-in and Inter-Korean Détente: Korea Strategic Review 2018 Nov 16, 2018
- Nov 15, 2018 Korea Global Forum 2018: A New Path Forward: Charting a Roadmap to Peace on the Korean Peninsula Nov 15, 2018
- Jun 12, 2018 Wilson Center: North Korea Summit: Historic Deal or Just a Historic Handshake? Jun 12, 2018
- May 1, 2018 Milken Institute Global Conference 2018: Avoiding War with North Korea May 1, 2018
- Apr 25, 2018 Wilson Center: New Year, New Strategy: Shifting Policies on North Korea in 2018 Apr 25, 2018
- Apr 12, 2018 International Journalism Festival: Foreign correspondents: how women have changed the role Apr 12, 2018
- Mar 13, 2018 Wilson Center: The Trump-Kim Summit: High Stakes, Uncertain Prospects Mar 13, 2018
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2017
- Nov 30, 2017 United States Institute of Peace: Is Diplomacy Possible with North Korea? Nov 30, 2017
- Nov 29, 2017 Korea Economic Institute: Soap Operas and Socialism: Kim Jong-un’s Policy Priorities through TV Dramas in North Korea Nov 29, 2017
- Oct 24, 2017 Zocalo Public Square: Before going to war in North Korea, try understanding the place first Oct 24, 2017
- Oct 12, 2017 BROOKINGS NOW What do experts make of the North Korea challenge? 5 takeaways from a Brookings event Oct 12, 2017
- Oct 10, 2017 Brookings Institution: The path forward: Who is Kim Jong Un? Oct 10, 2017
- Sep 12, 2017 COMEXI: North Korea: An unfinished war, an insight from Seoul by Jean H. Lee Sep 12, 2017
- Aug 25, 2017 C-SPAN: The Rise and Rule of North Korea's Kim Dynasty Aug 25, 2017
- Jun 7, 2017 Chicago Council: NORTH KOREA ON THE BRINK? Jun 7, 2017
- May 19, 2017 IFES: Preventing North Korea's Nuclear Breakout May 19, 2017
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2016
- Dec 6, 2016 Wilson Center: Beyond Caricatures: Writing About the Real North Korea Dec 6, 2016
- Jul 29, 2016 Aspen Security Forum: Peril on the 38th Parallel Jul 29, 2016
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2015
- Dec 10, 2015 UMG and Korea Press Foundation: Realizing Freedom of Information in North Korea Dec 10, 2015
- Nov 18, 2015 Global Education Conference Nov 18, 2015
- Nov 9, 2015 Unification Media Group: #신지은의 통일공감 13회 #진 리 Jean H. Lee (前 AP통신 서울평양 지국장) Nov 9, 2015
- Oct 14, 2015 UCLAN Korea Conference Oct 14, 2015
- May 14, 2015 Korea Society: Opening Pyongyang May 14, 2015
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2014
- Sep 7, 2014 Radio NZ: The trickiest job, reporting North Korea Sep 7, 2014
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2013
- Dec 1, 2013 East Asia Foundation: Daily life in North Korea in the Kim Jong Un Era Dec 1, 2013
- May 30, 2013 Asia Society: Interview: AP's Jean H. Lee Covers Both Koreas with Objectivity, Understanding May 30, 2013
- May 26, 2013 AAJA: Uncovering North Korea May 26, 2013
- Mar 9, 2013 SXSW: Tweets from the DMZ: Social Media in North Korea Mar 9, 2013
Leading U.S. experts and former officials to identify actionable policy steps the White House and Congress should take to address the growing threat from North Korea.