David C. Kang

David C. Kang (David Chan-oong Kang) (born 1965) is an American political scientist.

He holds a bachelor's degree in Anthropology and International Politics from Stanford University from 1988 and a doctorate in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley, 1995. Since 2009, Kang has been a professor of the University of Southern California, where he is a professor in both international politics and organization and management. He leads the Institute for Korean Studies at the same university. Kang has previously been a professor at Dartmouth College and guest professor at Stanford University, Yale University, Seoul National University, Korea University and Université de Genève. ^[1]

News articles

• New York Times: Kim Jong-un Is Not a Freakish Buffoon ^[2]: Western countries including the U.S. had hopeful thinking of potential signs of the DPRK’s collapse. However, this hope of collapse never materialized, and the popular mocking of Kim Jong-un is the sign of our misguided approach. A similar strategy was done by the U.S. in a situation in South Asia with respect to India and Pakistan’s Nuclear Weapons capabilities. For a decade, the US has ignored the presence and the development of nuclear weapons in both these countries, which eventually became a real threat and the US now has to acknowledge this fact. Nuclear weapons are great for deterrence against external attacks, and the North Koreans are very strategic on this matter by directing test missiles at Japan. The U.S. should now realize that hoping for a demise of the North Korean regime is a waste of time. Looking at the Kim dynasty over DPRK, It is clear that they have not lost control over the rulership of North Korea for over 65 years. Sanctions or threats haven’t worked in the past, and it is now time for the Donald Trump government to negotiate with DPRK directly instead of ignoring their nuclear capabilities or waiting for a collapse in governance.

• WNYC Studios: On the Media: Should We Be Worried About North Korea, Or Not?^[3]: The director of USC’s Korean Studies Institute explains that people's reasonable assessment of North Korea is not a horror show but a predictable one. We should detect the meaning on the consistent commentary from North Korea which is in defensive terms. He also investigated the procedure of the DPRK'S missile launches or nuclear test including more than 25 years in the nuclear crisis.

• The commentary on CNN regarding the death of Kim Jong-Un's half-brother ^[4]: The Director of the Korean Studies Institute, David Kang interviewed with CNN's Amara Walker to talk more about DPRK Kim Jong-un's family map and Kim Jong-nam's previous and recent activities.
• East Asia Forum: Reasons to be optimistic about North Korea ^[5]: Professor Kang explained the meaning of the 42-minute documentary that was shared with the people of DPRK about the Trump–Kim summit as the rest of the world understood. Trump’s attempts at engagement and diplomacy have seen returns with a dramatic and historic first step in the correct direction. Kim Jung-un has made concessions: a voluntary moratorium on missile testing, a voluntary moratorium on nuclear testing and dismantlement of the nuclear testing site without the highly risky ‘bloody nose’ strike.

• East Asia Forum: The Moon–Kim summit is the main event ^[6]: Professor Kang interpreted the diplomatic relationship between Moon Jae-in–Kim Jong-un summit and Trump–Kim summit. He also explained the reason for the substantial influence of Moon–Kim summit to the upcoming Trump–Kim summit.

• TIME: Donald Trump Needs the North Korea Meeting More Than Kim Jong-un ^[7]: The Director of the USC; Korean Studies Institute, David Kang explained the urgent reason why President Donald Trump needs to resolve the issue of the DPRK's nuclear weapons program. He also examined the meaning of the economic sanctions and any type of “bloody-nose” strategy by the most hawkish American advisors.

• Big Think : The interview on video : Is war with China inevitable? ^[8]: Some Westerners fear China's rise in economic and military power, but a strong China usually means less fighting for the last few thousands of years of Chinese history. Based on the East Asian history—which is entirely distinct from the European pattern, David Kang, Professor of International Relations at USC explains the inherited fear of war and reasonable background for the people's perception and actual fact.

Open lectures

• An Overview of Korea ^[9] : Duration: 57 minutes: Professor of International Relations at USC, through this open lecture, emphasizes Korea's historical and contemporary foreign relations in the world, its dynamic experiences during the 20th century, and a discussion of the people of North Korea.

• North Korea Beyond the Headlines PART 1: Introducing North Korea ^[10] : Duration: 42 minutes: USC Korean Studies Institute Director and Professor of International Relations, Mr Kang speaks about North Korea Beyond the Headlines: Society, Culture, and Business > PART 1: Introducing North Korea: People, Business, and Life ; David Kang presented a two-part lecture at USC on January 15, 2013 aimed at providing an introduction of North Korean people, life, and the long-running military challenge it poses to the region

• North Korea Beyond the Headlines Part 2: Dealing with North Korea's Military Challenge^[11]:Duration: 61 minutes: Part 2: Dealing with North Korea's Military Challenge. There are several trials of agreement between the U.S. and North Korea in 1994 by Agreed Framework, 2005 and in 2007. He suggested the solutions to the Nuclear issues based on long years of history. The reason for the stalemate between the U.S. and North Korea's stance; the U.S. requested North Korea - “You should disarm first; then we'll discuss security guarantees.” But North Korea's position is - “we need the security guarantees first, then we will disarm.” ^{[12][13] [14] [15][16] [17]}

Literature

• Kang, David C. (2010). East Asia Before the West: Five Centuries of Trade and Tribute. Columbia University Press.
• Kang, David C. (2007). China Rising: Peace, Power, and Order in East Asia. Columbia University Press.
• Kang, David C. og Cha, and Victor (2003). Nuclear North Korea: A Debate on Engagement Strategies. Columbia University Press.
• Kang, David C. (2002). Crony Capitalism: Corruption and Development in South Korea and the Philippines. Cambridge University Press.
  

See also

• 2018 North Korea–United States summit
• April 2018 inter-Korean summit
• May 2018 inter-Korean summit

References