Ambassador Robert R. King Joins CSIS Korea Chair as Senior Adviser

WASHINGTON, March 27, 2017: The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) is pleased to announce that Ambassador Robert R. King has joined the CSIS Office of the Korea Chair as a senior adviser.

Ambassador King previously served as the special envoy for North Korean human rights issues at the U.S. State Department from November 2009 to January 2017. He was the longest-serving U.S. envoy for human rights abuses in North Korea since the creation of the position under the North Korean Human Rights Act of 2004.

During his tenure, Ambassador King worked tirelessly to improve the human condition of the people of North Korea through his work with the United Nations, allied and partner governments in Europe and Asia, nongovernmental organizations, Congress, and the White House. He was instrumental in developing policies, raising awareness, and creating norms of accountability for those responsible for human rights violations in North Korea. He was also an indispensable part of diplomatic efforts to free U.S. citizens detained in North Korea and helped to prevent the repatriation of North Korean defectors requesting asylum in third party countries.

“We welcome Bob King’s expertise, experience, and wise counsel,” said Victor Cha, CSIS senior adviser and Korea Chair. “His work for President Obama on the dire situation in North Korea has contributed to the international groundswell of activism and awareness. Bob continues to ensure that human rights is fully integrated with the United States’ overall policy approach to North Korea.”

Prior to his work on Korea, Ambassador King was chief of staff to Representative Tom Lantos (D-CA) and worked on Capitol Hill for 25 years. He also concurrently served as the staff director (2007-2008) and the Democratic staff director (2001-2007) of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Ambassador King earned his Ph.D. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.