Mongolia and North Korea: A President's Perspective

Geopolitical developments in Northeast Asia are in flux. The consequences of the alignment between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un are unsettling for leaders within the region and present a challenge to US interests. The strengthening of ties by the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea as embodied in the establishment of a permanent secretariat to enhance relations among the three countries is unsettling for Chinese leaders and an irritant to the North Koreans.
Through the decades, following the demise of the Soviet Union, Mongolia has established a relatively quiet and effective path in northeast Asia, working to balance its bilateral interaction with Russia and China while maintaining good relations with South and North Korea. What are the keys to Mongolia's success on these fronts and how has it achieved simultaneous ongoing dialogue with both Koreas? How is Mongolia positioned today to effectively navigate within the region given the ever changing dynamics?
To answer these questions, NCNK was joined by former Mongolian President Elbegdorj Tsakhia, a highly regarded international statesman and Jenny Town, a Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center and the Director of Stimson's Korea Program and 38 North. NCNK Executive Director Keith Luse served as moderator.