Loyola University New Orleans POLSX264 Politics and International Relations of North Korea Spring 2019 (8-weeks online course) Dr. Kim, Young Soo Office: Monroe 279 Email: [email protected] Course Description This course is designed to enhance understanding of the multifaceted dimensions of politics and international relations of Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). We look at the trajectory of history of North Korea in domestic politics and relations with neighboring countries including China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, and the United States (US) from the variety of approaches. Special attentions are given to the focusing events and significant agenda that shape regional and international landscape surrounding North Korea, such as development of WMD, refugees, and transnational crimes. Course Objectives This course seeks to contribute to the learning objectives of the Department of Political Science. Students will be able: § To grasp general knowledge of North Korean politics, society, ideology and international relations. § To elaborate the hereditary nature of dictatorship. § To understand the strategy of military provocations (military-first politics) of North Korea. § To account for the determinants that drive North Korea to develop nuclear program and missile technology. § To elaborate the complicated military and security configuration of regional order of East Asia. § To discuss the events and their implications of human rights issues of North Korea. § To analyze the prospect of regional and international order centered around North Korea foreign policies and responses of surrounding countries. Required Materials The following is a required book. It will be available at the University bookstore. You can also purchase it through other online booksellers: § Kyung-Ae Park & Scott Snyder, eds. North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society (Lanham, Maryland; Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2013). ISBN-10: 1442218118, $40.00 *All other supplement readings are posted on Bb so that you should check each week’s reading list every Monday. Policies for Course Assignments and Evaluations Students will demonstrate their mastery of understanding of course materials and their commitment to the course. All information on readings, videos and weekly assignments will be posted on every Monday. The assignments will consist of one or more than one of the following: POLS X264 POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF NORTH KOREA 1 1. Short Answers (20%) Students are given short answer questions to answer from assigned readings and videos. 2. Online Discussions (60%) Discussion questions and critical comments Students are expected to deeply grasp assigned materials and address question or comment that is worth being discussed. Students should explain why the question or comment is relevant (i.e. why you think they are critical, significant, interesting, or inspirational, how the question or comment can be related or connected to other readings or videos, and what you want your peers to learn from the discussion you initiated). Students are also asked to post interesting and provocative current events related to North Korea from the media. Each question should be posted on Discussion Board. Discussion questions responses Students are expected to response to discussions that your peers posted. In writing the responses, you can explain, compare, contrast, or synthesize assigned materials and beyond. In other words, you can add quotations and examples or introduce ideas or perspectives from either class materials or other sources. You will contribute to the discussions by confirming knowledge, revealing distinctive perspectives, enhancing the understanding of specific point of views or constructing own claims. 3. Essays (20%) Students are expected to write essays, of which the topics are given by the instructor (topics might be overlapped with discussion questions or critical comments by students). The guideline and due dates of the essays will be provided. Grades will be assigned based on a standard grading scale that includes plusses and minuses. The following scale will provide a guideline: B+ = 88 - 89.99 C+ = 78-79.99 D = 60-69.99 F = 59 and below A = 92 – B = 82- 87.99 C = 72-77.99 A- = 90 – 91.99 B- = 80-82 C- = 70-71.99 Email is the best way to reach the instructor. I do our best to respond promptly whether you email me with the addresses listed on the syllabus. To email the instructor, please always include ‘POLS-A394 Politics and IR (International Relations)of North Korea’ in the subject line. This will ensure that I know you are emailing me about the class. If the instructor does not respond right away, you can expect that I will do so during our next scheduled office hours. Be aware that Loyola policy is very restrictive in protecting your privacy. According to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Acts (FERPA), we will not share grade information, private or personally identifying information (like student id numbers) on email, so if you want to discuss a grade-related matter, you will need to speak with me personally. 2 POLS X264 POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF NORTH KOREA Course Schedule ***I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus as we go through the semester. I will alert you to any changes through Blackboard. Week 1 Overview: Current State of Korean Peninsula What does this hermit kingdom currently look like from its political, economic, ideological and diplomatic standpoints? v Watch: “Inside North Korea An Exclusive Insight” (RT 60 Minutes RT) (29:45)) (2017) v Read: Snyder and Park, “Introduction,” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society Week 2 Ideologies, Propaganda and Power Succession What are the ideologies of North Korea? How were the ideologies utilized for the purposes of propaganda and three generation power succession? v Watch “The Happiest People on Earth. North Korea: Rulers, citizens & official narrative” (RT) (51:46) (2017) “Kim Jong-Un The Unauthorized Biography” (2016) (53:43) (recommended) v Read Charles Armstrong, “The Role and Influence of Ideology,” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: : Politics, Economy, and Society Bruce Comings, “The Kims’ Three Bodies: Toward Understanding Dynastic Succession in North Korea” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: : Politics, Economy, and Society Week 3 Human Rights and Refugee Issue How has been the human rights violation under the regime? Can North Korean defectors be protected by international legal frameworks? v Watch “Secret State of North Korea” (Frontline) (53:41) (2014) “The Defectors - Escapees From North Korea's Prison Camps” (Sky News) (22:50) (2014) v Read Shin-Wha Lee, “International Legal Perspectives on North Korean Refugee Issues,” in Kyung-Ae Park, ed., Non-Traditional Security Issues in North Korea (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2013). POLS X264 POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF NORTH KOREA 3 Week 4 North Korea and China How did the North Korea execute its relations with traditional ally like China throughout the turbulent political and ideological history of East Asia? v Watch “An Inconvenient Border: Where China Meets North Korea” (ABC News) (39:15) (2017) v Read Liu Ming, “Changes and Continuities in Pyongyang's China Policy, in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition. Week 5 North Korea and the United States: Nuclear Crisis in Korean Peninsula I How can we see the nuclear development of North Korea? What are the underlying motivations of North Korea? How has the US responded to the nuclear threats posed by North Korea and why? v Watch: “Kim’s Nuclear Game” (Frontline) (54:47) (2004) v Read David Kang, “North Korea’s Relations with the United States and the Rest of the World,” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society. Week 6 North Korea and the United States: Nuclear Crisis in Korean Peninsula II How can we see the nuclear development of North Korea? What are the underlying motivations of North Korea? How has the US responded to the nuclear threats posed by North Korea and why? v Read Victor Cha and Nicholas Anderson, “North Korea after Kim Jong Il,” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: : Politics, Economy, and Society David Kang, “Washington’s Response to an Operationally Nuclear North Korea,” in Moore, ed., North Korean Nuclear Operationality., pp. 147~163. Gregory J. Moore, “Beijing’s Problem with an Operationally Nuclear North Korea,” in Moore, ed., North Korean Nuclear Operationality, pp. 77~104. Jong Kun Choi, “The Perils of Strategic Patience with North Korea,” The Washington Quarterly (Winter 2016): 57-72. Week 7 Two Koreas: Reunification? Is reunification of the South and the North viable? How do neighboring countries perceive the reunification of Korean peninsular? v Watch: 4 POLS X264 POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF NORTH KOREA “KOREA: The Imposed Divide” (RT) (56:59) (2017) v Read: Haksoon Paik, “Changes and Continuities in Inter-Korean Relations,” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society. Week 8 North Korea in Northeast Asia: Future of Regional Peace and Security What would be the prospect of regional peace and security in East Asia? Are there any feasible political, military or diplomatic instruments for establishing stability and prosperity over the region? v Read: G. John Ikenberry, “From Hegemony to the Balance of Power: The Rise of China and American Grand Strategy in East Asia,” International Journal of Korean Unification Studies 23, 2 (2014): 41- 63. Randall L. Schweller, “China’s Aspirations and the Clash of Nationalisms in East Asia: A Neoclassical Realist Examination,” International Journal of Korean Unification Studies 23, 2 (2014): 1-40. Scott Snyder and Kyung-Ae Park, “North Korea in Transition: Evolution or Revolution,” in Park & Snyder, eds., North Korea in Transition: Politics, Economy, and Society. POLS X264 POLITICS AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF NORTH KOREA 5 .