The British Korean Society’s (almost) annual opportunity to hear in person from the British Ambassadors in Seoul and Pyongyang has been set for 6pm on Wednesday 2nd July.
The event will be a joint venture with Chatham House, and will take place in the main hall of Chatham House (10 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LE).
This year’s event will not quite be a straightforward two Ambassadors event, owing to the fact that the British Embassy in Pyongyang has yet to be re-opened after its closure during the COVID pandemic, and the appointment of a new HMA Pyongyang has yet to be publicly announced. So alongside Ambassador Colin Crooks (Seoul) we will hear perspectives on the UK/ North Korea relationship from Karen Maddocks, Head of the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)’s North East Asia Department.
How should Britain build influence and impact on the Korean Peninsula?
Reassessing the UK’s role in security, diplomacy and engagement on the Korean Peninsula.
Amid a delicate geopolitical environment, the Korean Peninsula remains one of the world’s most strategically sensitive regions. Nuclear tensions, the threat of military escalation, geoeconomic turbulence and domestic political volatility continue to shape regional stability.
North Korea continues to maintain its isolationist posture alongside a foreign policy aimed at disruption. South Korea, despite recent political upheaval, has taken on a growing global role as a diplomatic, economic and security actor. The UK’s role is somewhat limited, however it has signalled greater ambition in its Indo-Pacific strategy. The question remains about how Britain’s role on the Peninsula should evolve.
This panel brings together senior policymakers and experts to evaluate whether the UK’s current policy tools and partnerships are fit for purpose.
Key questions include:
- What are the main security, economic and diplomatic challenges facing the Korean Peninsula today—and how are they evolving?
- How can the UK contribute more meaningfully to peace and stability on the Peninsula?
- What opportunities exist for deepening engagement with South Korea—and navigating the complexities of North Korea?
- How does the Korean Peninsula fit into the UK’s broader Indo-Pacific tilt?
Speakers
- Simon Smith: Chairman, Steering Committee, Ukraine Forum, Russia and Eurasia Programme
- Colin Crooks LVO: UK Ambassador to the ROK
- Dr Edward Howell: Korea Foundation Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme
- Karen Maddocks: Head of NE Asia Department, FCDO