AUDIO

While the recent round of six-party talks and the inter-Korean summit provide a hopeful vision for resolving the crisis on the Korean Peninsula, serious questions remain as to whether or not Pyongyang will ever dismantle its nuclear program or undertake fundamental reform. In his recent book, Red Rogue: The Persistent Challenge of North Korea (Potomac Books, 2007), Marine Corps University professor Bruce Bechtol describes North Korean decision-making since September 11. He argues that the Korean stalemate is here to stay, as the government of Kim Jong Il has made the fundamental decision to avoid any steps that would diminish its “military first” and “self-reliance” policies. On October 15, AEI will host a discussion of Mr. Bechtol’s work and what North Korea’s approach toward the nuclear crisis means for the United States and its allies in Asia.