Last week, Stephen Biegun (LSA ’86), U.S. special representative to North Korea, discussed the United States’ denuclearization efforts with North Korea during the Ford School’s Weiser Diplomacy Center launch series. Biegun emphasized the United States’ preparedness to negotiate with Kim Jung Un, stressing that time is running out. He remarked that denuclearization is of worldwide interest and that countries neighboring North Korea specifically play an instrumental role in communicating denuclearization efforts.

Moderated by John Ciorciari, director of the Weiser Diplomacy Center and associate professor at the Ford School, Biegun addressed audience questions ranging from the role of human rights in denuclearization efforts to economic repercussions of the efforts. “Biegun sought in his speech to underscore that the U.S. was ready to help North Korea’s economy once a deal is reached,” Nick Wadhams reported in the Bloomberg article “U.S.-North Korea Nuclear Talks Still Stalled, Trump’s Envoy Says(link is external).”

The talk received coverage from a myriad of international news outlets, including:

Bloomberg(link is external): U.S.-North Korea Nuclear Talks Still Stalled, Trump’s Envoy Says

Straits Times(link is external): US special envoy Stephen Biegun says North Korea blocking resumption of nuclear talks

Hankyoreh(link is external): Will N. Korea respond to Biegun’s persuasion and pressure?

MSN(link is external): Biegun urges N. Korea to halt development of WMDs, return to talks

Korea Herald(link is external): Top US officials urge NK to resume talks

Chosun Media(link is external): U.S. Fears Nuclear Arms Race in Northeast Asia

Korea Times(link is external): US envoy calls on North Korea to halt hostility, return to talks

Inquirer(link is external): Top US officials urge NK to resume talksTop US officials urge NK to resume talks

Yonhap News KR(link is external): U.S. envoy calls on N. Korea to halt hostility, return to talks

Watch Biegen’s remarks here.