January 7, 2011

Inspectors would see only part of the picture in North Korea, says Straub

Looking into the new year at prospects for making progress on the North Korean issue, David Straub, associate director of Stanford KSP, recently spoke with Voice of America's (VOA) Korean Service. Straub outlined North Korea's strategy in dealing with the United States and South Korea, explaining, for example, why the North's reported willingness to allow International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors back to North Korea is not necessarily a good idea. Inspectors would almost certainly have access to only some North Korean nuclear facilities, he contended, while others would remain hidden, and North Korea would use the presence of the international inspectors to try to give the international community the impression that their nuclear program is legitimate. The full text of the Korean-language interview is available on the VOA Korean Service website, and the full audio is on iTunes (VOA Korean Evening Broadcast, Jan. 3, 2011, minute 13:09 to minute 22:19).

• » VOA Korean Service: "New year interview: David Straub, former State Department Korea director: Prospects for North Korean nuclear negotiations in the new year" (Korean)