North Korea and Africa: old alliances, new threats

This seminar examines the ties between old allies and their implications for global nuclear disarmament efforts.

Date: 2016-11-30

Time: 10:00 to 13:00

Venue: Conference room, ISS Pretoria, Block C, Brooklyn Court

RSVP: Agar Ngwenya, Phone: +27 12 346 9500, Email: [email protected]

Could Africa’s diplomatic, economic and military relations with North Korea be in violation of UN sanctions resolutions? And why do most African states refrain from publicly condemning North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes?

During the Cold War and struggle for independence, many African countries maintained good diplomatic and military relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea). In 2006, the UN Security Council imposed an arms embargo and a travel ban on persons involved in North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, and a ban on a range of imports and exports. Since then, despite increased sanctions and international condemnation, North Korea continues to conduct nuclear and ballistic missile tests – most recently on 9 September.

Chair: Peter Fabricius, independent foreign affairs analyst and ISS consultant

Speakers:

Noël Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Transnational Threats and International Crime, ISS

Nicolas Kasprzyk, Consultant, Transnational Threats and International Crime, ISS