I was interviewed yesterday for Arirang News’ “On Point” segment on its morning news program, “New Day,” and discussed the Korean Workers’ Party Central Committee plenum, which was part-way through its annual end-of-year session. I also address recent unhelpful statements by the ROK that added fuel to the North’s bellicose rhetoric and needlessly increase tensions. We also discussed that Kim Jong Un will turn 40 next month and has now been in office for 12 years. Many thanks to anchor Kim Da Mi for her questions.

Here is the full interview:

Photo at top: Kim Jong-un attends the second-day session of a year-end plenary meeting of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party in Pyongyang on Dec. 27, 2023.

I was interviewed yesterday for Arirang News’ “On Point” segment on its morning program, “New Day.” I discussed the trilateral meeting of the national security advisors of the U.S., ROK and Japan held in Seoul on Saturday. We also discussed White House Asia czar Kurt Campbell’s comments on North Korea during his Senate testimony, and whether Kim Jong Un’s daughter, Ju-ae, is being groomed for succession. Many thanks to anchor Kim Da Mi for her questions.

Here is the full interview:

Photo at top: White House Indo-Pacific policy advisor, Kurt Campbell, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee at a hearing on his nomination to become Deputy Secretary of State, Dec. 7, 2023. Below are Campbell’s remarks on North Korea during the Q&A session: