EVENTS

This presentation explores Japan’s relationship with one of its immediate neighbours, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), historically marked by tensions, owing to the bitter memories of Japanese colonial rule, the unresolved abduction issue, the ongoing nuclear and missile threat, and the challenges of diplomatic engagement. For a long time, Japan has faced a strategic dilemma: whether to pursue engagement or maintain a confrontational stance that prioritises the abduction issue, security, and deterrence. This dilemma is compounded by North Korea’s nuclear and missile developments, which pose a significant challenge to Japan’s national security. More recently, the deployment of soldiers from the DPRK in the Ukraine war, also give rise to the apprehension that Russia may reciprocate by aiding North Korea’s illegal weapons programs. Additionally, North Korea’s cyber activities and illicit revenue generation represents a dangerous expansion of the conflict, with serious implications for Japan’s security. As Japan navigates its policy and approach, it must balance the desire for regional stability with its domestic concerns related to the abduction issue. The talk will explore the various irritants in Japan’s strategic approach to North Korea and examine the complex interplay between engagement and confrontation in Japan’s dealings with North Korea.

Speaker

Debendra Sahu is an Assistant Professor of Japanese Studies at O.P. Jindal Global University, where he teaches courses on Japanese Politics and Diplomacy, and Political and Business Risk Management. Dr. Sahu holds a Ph.D. in Japanese Studies from Jawaharlal Nehru University. Dr. Sahu was a recipient of the Monbukagakusho fellowship and pursued research at University of Tokyo for two years. Dr. Sahu has interviewed various high-profile dignitaries including Mr. Shinzo Abe (former Prime Minister of Japan). He represented India in the prestigious Program for Human Resource Development in Asia for Peacebuilding, commissioned by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Dr. Sahu contributed to the Japan-South Asia and Japan-Korean Peninsula segment of an illustrious database “The World and Japan” funded by grants-in-aid from Ministry of Education, Japan, and Japan Society for Promotion of Science. Dr. Sahu’s research interests span the field of Japanese studies, international political economy, and Indian politics.

Chair

Srabani Roy Choudhury is a Professor in Japanese Studies, Centre for East Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Her association with Japan began with the Japan Foundation Fellowship 1996-1997. She has been on a visiting scholar programme at Keizai Koho Centre, Ministry of Economics and Industry, Japan, Policy Research Institute, Ministry of Finance, Japan, REIB, Kobe University, GSID, Nagoya University. Her recent publications are centred on economic diplomacy between Japan and India with reference to Japanese business. Currently, she is looking at India-Japan relations from the perspective of the power dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region. She has to her credit two edited volumes titled Japan-SAARC Partnership: A Way Ahead (2014) and India-Japan Relations @ 70: Building Beyond Bilateral (2022).

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