London Korean Links

Covering things Korean in London and beyond since 2006

Korean Peninsula Peace Forum

Leading authorities from the academic and practitioner communities in the UK will discuss the current tense situation on the Korean peninsula and the prospects for the easing of tension and return to negotiations. Looking at the strategy of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the Forum will first consider the complementarity between goals of promoting human … [Read More]

Healing Hearts: The stories and voices of North Korean refugees

Three North Korean refugees will share their experiences in North and South Korea through different voices. Co-founder of Freedom Speakers International will share his experiences meeting with more than 500 North Koreans refugees and why North Korean refugees speak out. After the forum, attendees will also be invited to watch “You Don’t Know,” a documentary … [Read More]

North Korean human rights abuses and security concerns: A parallel challenge

The Centre for Geopolitics and Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Cambridge are co-hosting a special talk by Ambassador Shin-wha Lee (ROK Ambassador for International Cooperation on North Korean Human Rights). Talk Summary: The nuclear program and human rights abuses in North Korea are interconnected, yet often treated separately. However, … [Read More]

SOAS conference: The Real North Korea: in its Multiplicity of Origins, Dynamics, and Futures

Speakers: Andrei Lankov, Park Hyung-jung, Tatiana Gabroussenko, Balazs Szalontai, Kevin Gray, Charlotte Webb, Camilo Aguirre, Peter Ward This special one-day symposium on North Korea’s history, society and economy will be co-hosted by the SOAS Centre of Korean Studies and the AKS Korean Studies Laboratory: ‘The Real North Korea’. It will be an opportunity to hear … [Read More]

Science Engagement with the DPRK: The Mount Paektu Research Centre

BKS members are invited to this talk and drinks reception. Doors open 18.15, Talk and discussion: 18.30, Drinks reception: 19.30 Opening and closing remarks Professor Sir Martyn Poliako FRS, University of Nottingham Martin Uden, Chair, British Korean Society The Mount Paektu Research Centre Professor James Hammond, Birkbeck, University of London Dr Amy Donovan, University of Cambridge … [Read More]

A Korean Peninsula Agriculture Community: Challenges and Opportunities

Michael Schluter, CEO of Relational Peacebuilding Initiatives, will explain how a Korean Peninsula Agriculture Community provides a potential pathway which could lead to eventual reunification of the peninsula. A similar trade agreement between France and Germany in one sector in 1951, set in the context of ‘ever closer union’, started off the journey to the … [Read More]

Report on 4th Plenary Meeting of 8th Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea

The end-of-year report from the Party plenary meeting, sourced from Rodong Sinmun and knca.kp. NKNews has alternative takes on the report: “North Korea vows military buildup due to ‘destabilizing’ situation on peninsula” and also “Plenum’s agriculture focus suggests dire food shortages in North Korea” Let Us Strive for Our Great State’s Prosperity and Development and … [Read More]

Korean Peninsula Peace Forum 2021

King’s London announces the 2021 Korea Peace Forum, organised in collaboration with SOAS atn the ROK Embassy Korean Peninsula Peace Forum 2021 Wednesday 17 November 2021, 14:30 Bush House, 30 Aldwych, London WC2B 4BG Register via Eventbrite The 2021 forum will involve leading academics and practitioners discussing the political and security situation in the Korean … [Read More]

Assassins: the story of Kim Jong Nam’s murder

Thanks to Jason Verney for drawing our attention to this one. Available on demand / online for an unknown length of time, a documentary about the assassination of Kim Jong Nam. Details of where you can rent it can be found on the film’s website, www.assassins-film.co.uk Assassins Dir: Ryan White (2020, 1h 44m) Available online … [Read More]

Kim Jong Un’s 2021 New Year letter

Kim Jong Un’s 2021 New Year message is simple and brief, taking the form of a hand-written letter to his people. Below is the official release sourced from the DPRK Ministry of Foreign Affairs website. The Rodong Sinmun has also posted on its website a facsimile of the letter, and an image of Kim Jong … [Read More]

Peace Forum on the Korean Peninsula

The below notice came, via a circuitous route, too late to publish in advance of the forum (what has happened to the Embassy’s PR function?). It is posted here for archival purposes. One thing of note: the flyer reveals the existence of an Embassy YouTube channel. The link is now included in LKL’s link library. … [Read More]

2020 Korean Peninsula Peace Forum

Coming later this month, a free-to-attend online presentation of proposals for a practical approach to reunification. You can get a preview of some of the likely discussion points by reading the proposals which are available on the Relational Peacebuilding Initiatives website. 2020 Korean Peninsula Peace Forum A Socio-Economic Strategy Leading Towards Peaceful Korean Unification Wednesday … [Read More]

Online lecture: North Korean Ghost Ships

A lecture and screening about a fascinating topic to ease you in to the Bank Holiday weekend. I missed the screening at SOAS last year so I’ll definitely be tuning in to this. North Korean Ghost Ships Thursday 7 May, 2020 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM Talk by Robert Winstanley-Chesters and film showing and Q&A … [Read More]