Korea Platform
The Honorable Wendy R. Sherman
Senior Counselor, Albright Stonebridge Group
Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State
The CSIS Korea Chair will be featuring a series of Korea Platforms with remarks from the distinguished speakers at the annual JoongAng Ilbo-CSIS Forum took place in Washington D.C. on May 3. The second in the series is the featured luncheon address by the Honorable Wendy R. Sherman, Senior Counselor, Albright Stonebridge Group, and Former Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
It is an honor to be here among so many experts who are thinking about the challenge of North Korea to the region and the world, and developing a new paradigm to better understand and respond to today’s complicated strategic landscape in Northeast Asia.
In thinking about my remarks today, I was drawn to the question asked of me every time I talk about the recent nuclear agreement with Iran – what have you learned that would be helpful in understanding how to deal with North Korea? In reflecting on experiences negotiating with North Korea during both the Clinton and Obama Administrations, and the recent Iran nuclear agreement, I do believe it is useful to think through the similarities and differences, and the lessons that can be learned.
My initial response has been that each situation is sui generis, and the two countries are different in many important ways.