Kim Jong Un and The Bomb: is North Korea Really a Threat?

Intelligence Squared

Arts, News, Society & Culture, News Commentary

4.2 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 6 October 2020

⏱️ 56 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

North Korea shocked the world in September 2017 by exploding the most powerful nuclear device tested anywhere in 25 years. Months earlier, it had conducted the first test flight of a missile capable of ranging much of the United States. Soon after, Kim Jong Un, the reclusive state’s ruler, declared that his nuclear deterrent was complete. World leaders, intelligence officials and many ordinary people around the world shuddered at the thought of a fully nuclear-armed North Korea. But how did this brutal nation build such a sophisticated nuclear programme? If the international community had taken non proliferation more seriously after the Cold War could things have turned out differently? And what should be our end game with the North Koreans? Should we be seeking an Iran style nuclear deal or would that be a fatal error of judgment? In September 2020 we were joined by Ankit Panda, renowned security expert and author of 'Kim Jong Un and The Bomb', who spoke to Dr Patricia Lewis, former Director of the UN Institute for Disarmament Research and head of international security at Chatham House, about how this small nation became a nuclear power—and how we can learn to live with it. The event was chaired by Edward Lucas. To find out more about Ankit Panda's book click here: https://amzn.to/3noOBcP Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/intelligencesquared. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Hello, I'm Rory Stewart, and I'd like to tell you about an Intelligence Square event I'm doing with the classicist, author and broadcaster Mary Beard.
0:08.0	Together we'll be discussing politics and power from the Caesars to Sunak who gets to win power who is excluded does
0:16.2	power always corrupt or are there examples of leaders who've maintained their integrity
0:20.8	while an authority and how does the nature of power vary across different times and cultures?
0:26.0	These are just some of the questions that Mary and I will be trying to answer.
0:30.0	In-person tickets are now sold out, but you can still watch online on the 13th
0:33.9	November at 7 PM BST. Put your questions to us live as we discuss power and
0:39.2	politics down the ages. Hello podcast listeners I'm Connor and welcome to this Tuesday episode of Intelligence the Square Plus and it features Ankit Panda, author of the brilliant new book,
0:54.0	Kim Jong-un and the Bomb, Survival and Deterrence in North Korea,
0:57.0	and he was joined by Dr Patricia Lewis, head of International Security at Chatham House,
1:01.0	as well as columnist at the Times Edward Lucas, who's also a regular
1:04.9	host on Intelligence Squared, and together they delved into the history of North Korea's nuclear program,
1:10.0	what it tells us about the country and also about nuclear proliferation and weapons
1:13.7	around the world today. It's a really interesting conversation and you'll hear
1:16.4	questions from our live audience towards the end and if you want to be part of our
1:19.7	live audience in the future and have your name read out here on the podcast. We have a special
1:24.1	offer just go to intelligence square dot com slash plus and use the code podcast
1:28.6	p od caest the checkout and watch along all our upcoming events including John Bolton
1:34.0	Donald Trump's former national security advisor just days before the US election.
1:38.7	A quick reminder if you do enjoy today's episode and want to delve a bit deeper into
1:41.8	North Korea's nuclear program, you can
1:43.4	find a link for Ankit Pandas book in the podcast description.
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Intelligence Squared, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Intelligence Squared and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.