Robert R. King served as special envoy for North Korea human rights issues at the U.S. Department of State. He was nominated by President Barack Obama, confirmed by the U.S. Senate, and served in that position from November 2009 to January 2017. Ambassador King led U.S. efforts to press North Korea for progress on its human rights, U.S. humanitarian work in North Korea, and the treatment of U.S. citizens being held in the North. He represented the United States in international organizations dealing with these issues. Earlier, Dr. King was staff director of the House Foreign Affairs Committee under Chairmen Tom Lantos and Howard Berman and prior to that was a senior professional staff member of the committee (1993–2009). He was concurrently chief of staff to Representative Tom Lantos (1983–2009). In the 1970s, as a White House fellow, he was a member of the National Security Council staff working with Dr. Zbigniew Brzezinski in the Jimmy Carter administration. He was also assistant director of research and senior analyst at Radio Free Europe in Munich Germany (1970–1977). Dr. King holds a Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and a B.A. in political science from Brigham Young University. An adjunct professor, he has taught courses in international relations and U.S. foreign policy in a number of graduate and undergraduate programs. He was awarded the Knight’s Cross Order of Merit by the president of the Republic of Hungary.
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"Beyond Utopia" and Human Rights in North Korea
Event — November 2, 2023
North Korean Human Rights and International Cooperation: The Way Forward after the UN Commission of Inquiry (COI)+10
Event — April 21, 2023
North Korean Human Rights at a New Juncture: COVID, Regional Players, and South Korea-U.S. Cooperation
Event — October 6, 2022
Book Launch: The North Korean Conundrum
Event — October 28, 2021
Patterns of Impunity: Human Rights in North Korea and the Role of the U.S. Special Envoy
Event — June 17, 2021
Online Event: Korea Chair “The Capital Cable” #2 with Robert King & Katrin Katz
Event — May 21, 2020
Prospects for the Trump-Kim Vietnam Summit
Event — February 22, 2019
Spring Summitry on the Korean Peninsula: Peace Breaking Out or Last Gasp Diplomacy?
Event — May 7, 2018
Taking a Stand Together for Human Rights in North Korea
Event — May 2, 2016
North Korea: The Human Rights and Security Nexus
Event — February 19, 2016