Seminar to discuss the North’s weapons program

The Korean Institute for National Unification, under the auspice of the Ministry of Unification, will hold a one-day seminar today at Waseda University in Tokyo regarding South Korea and Japan’s cooperation in curbing the North’s nuclear weapons program.

It will also touch upon issues related to the two-year-old regime of Kim Jong-un.

The seminar, which runs from 1:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., will host Korean and Japanese experts, including Shinichiro Nagano, a professor at Daito Bunka University; Teruo Komaki, a former professor at Kokushikan University; and Kimiya Tadashi, a Tokyo University professor.

The first session, beginning with a speech by Cheon Seong-Whun, the president of the institute, will evaluate the leadership of Kim, the youngest son of late leader Kim Jong-il, and his political and economic achievements since he assumed his position in December 2011.

The second session will address the so-called trust-building process on the Korean Peninsula - the Park Geun-hye administration’s policy on North Korea - and how Japan can cooperate in regard to it.

Several Japanese experts will also discuss how the unification of the two Koreas would have political and economic benefits for Japan.

BY KIM HEE-JIN [heejin@joongang.co.kr ]