Cathy Kang: Rethinking Korean unification from a global perspective

Korea Risk Group Executive Director Jeongmin Kim kicks off the podcast this week by discussing North Korea’s positive response after Seoul expressed regret for past civilian drone incursions, only to quickly undercut hopes for inter-Korean detente with more hardline messaging and a series of missile launches. In the second half, Dr. Cathy Kang of the Peaceful Unification Advisory Council — a group that advises South Korea’s president on inter-Korean issues — joins the podcast to discuss how her experience growing up in Europe has shaped her perspective on Korean unification and coexistence, as well as the role of overseas Koreans in public diplomacy. She outlines how the advisory body gathers global input on North Korea policy and emphasizes the importance of maintaining dialogue and promoting peaceful coexistence. She argues that sustained engagement and cultural outreach are essential to preparing for future opportunities, despite declining interest in unification and North Korea’s rejection of inter-Korean rapprochement. Dr. Cathy Kang is an advisory member at the Peaceful Unification Advisory Committee and an assistant professor at Plovdiv University. Her remarks in this episode do not represent the official position of the Presidential Unification Advisory Council. About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Jacco Zwetsloot exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.