National Endowment for Democracy, Sejong Institute, and NKNet to Host October 21 Conference on North Korea

WASHINGTON, Oct. 14 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being released by the National Endowment for Democracy:

WHO:  The National Endowment for Democracy (NED); The Sejong Institute; The Network for North Korean Democracy and Human Rights (NKNet); Robert King, US Special Envoy to North Korean Human Rights Issues;  full agenda: www.ned.org/events.

WHAT: One-day conference:  North Korea's Shifting Political Landscape: Will Succession Provide Opportunities for Expanded Human Rights and Democracy in the Hermit Kingdom?

Panel topics include:

• North Korea: Political Context
• Free Flow of Information in North Korea
• Marketization and Social Change in North Korea
• Programmatic Opportunities to Promote Democracy and Human Rights in North Korea

WHERE:  National Endowment for Democracy, 1025 F Street NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20004

WHEN:  Thursday, October 21, 2010, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

ABOUT:  On September 27, North Korea's government news agency announced the promotion of Kim Jong-il's third son, Kim Jong-un, to the rank of four-star military general, the clearest indication yet of North Korea's succession plans. The simultaneous elevation of Kim Jong-il's sister, Kim Kyoung-hui, to the same rank shows Kim's determination to keep power in the family, but the depth of support for the young, inexperienced Kim Jong-un, as well as the impact the succession will have on North Korea's abysmal human rights environment, is still unclear. How will political, social and economic life in the DPRK evolve? And will there be new opportunities to promote human rights and democracy?  This day-long conference, featuring four panels of South Korean and western experts as well as North Korean defectors and activists, will seek to address these questions.

REGISTER:  This event is open to the media.  Credentialed journalists who wish to attend should email Jane Jacobsen:  [email protected].

For the full agenda and list of speakers, please visit www.ned.org/events.

SOURCE National Endowment for Democracy