Tag Archives: Korea

World Affairs Council’s virtual series continues with rescheduled Korea-focused discussion, two other events this month

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President Donald J. Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, shake hands as they meet for the first time, June 12, 2018, at the Capella Hotel in Singapore. (state.gov)

By K.D. Norris

ken@wktv.org

The World Affairs Council of West Michigan (WACWM) continues its virtual series of special discussions and its Great Decisions Global Discussions 2021 series this week, starting with the rescheduling of a special program on the future of Korea and its alliance with the United States.

The program “The Korean — U.S. Alliance”, originally scheduled to take place in mid- January, was rescheduled to Feb. 4. The program will feature the U.S. Department of State’s Dr. Jennifer Brannon, Sung-hoon Park, of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the U.S., and Korea Economic Institute vice president Mark Tortola. A program of the World Affairs Councils of America in partnership with the Korea Economic Institute, this will focus on broadening and deepening public understanding of Korea and the U.S.-Korea relationship.

While the program was available live is is also viewable as an archive on YouTube here.

The WACWM’s Great Decisions Global Discussions series will be live-streamed to YouTube Mondays from 6-7:15 p.m., starting Feb. 8 and running through March 29. The public is invited and the webinars will be viewable live and as archived on-demand. The cost to the public is $10 per discussion, $60 for a series pass, with prior registration required.

The February series dates, topics and guest speaker are as follows:
 

Feb. 8, “North Korea: Getting Diplomacy Back on Track” with Suzanne DiMaggio, senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

After a historical summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in 2018, hopes of a change in relations have faded. Now, with a new president in the White House, landslide legislative victories in South Korea, and rumors of an unwell Kim, do new dynamics have the potential to change a perennially thorny situation?

DiMaggio is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Board Chair of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a new think tank she co-founded in 2019, and is currently directing a U.S.-DPRK dialogue that has included several visits to North Korea. As part of that process, she facilitated the first official discussions between the Trump administration and North Korean government representatives in Oslo in May 2017.

Feb. 15, “Have We Learned Anything about this Pandemic?” with Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs, The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University.

COVID-19 took the world by surprise, but it shouldn’t have been surprising. The question remains how our global health systems can be more responsive and resilient to pandemics. Professor Andrew Natsios will discuss the structural problems in the World Health Organization that have created dysfunctions laid bare by COVID-19; the need for a global pandemic early warning system and how it might be achieved; and next steps in vaccine distribution in the developing world in light of great power competition and larger global health challenges.

Professor Natsios is an executive professor at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University and Director of the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs. He was previously a Distinguished Professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. He is also the author of three books: U.S. Foreign Policy and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1997), The Great North Korean Famine (2001), and Sudan, South Sudan, and Darfur: What Everyone Needs to Know.

Feb. 22, “The European Union: The New Agenda Post-Brexit” with Tomas Baert , Head of Trade and Agriculture, European Delegation to the U.S.

Containing 5.8 percent of the world population but accounting for 18 percent of world GDP, the European Union holds enormous influence in the world, driving economic growth, advancing sustainable development, and championing peace and security by promoting democratic norms. While Brexit has been the focus, other key priorities of the Union remain: stabilizing transatlantic relations, continuing response to the COVID crisis, leading in the climate fight, and transforming the digital economy.

Baert, Head of Trade and Agriculture for the European Delegation to the United States focuses on the future of the EU in this presentation. Prior to his work in the U.S., Baert was the Head of Unit for Trade Strategy at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Trade (DG Trade). From 2014 to 2016, he was an assistant to Director-General for Trade, advising on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and WTO negotiations.

For more information and to register, visit worldmichigan.org/greatdecisions2021.

Recent ‘bomb scare’ serves as reminder to call police first

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The inert mortar round and .30 caliber bullets were brought into the Wyoming Department of Public Safety on Feb. 18. (Supplied)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org

When a person comes back from a vacation, it is not uncommon for them to also bring back a few souvenirs. It is no different for those who have fought in a war, especially World War II, Korea, or Vietnam — except their souvenirs could possibly be explosive.

“It was not uncommon for veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam to bring these items (munitions such as mortar shells) home,” said Sgt. Joe Roney, one of 12 members on the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad that services the westside of Michigan. “As these veterans pass, it is when family members come across these items.”

Such was the case last week when a resident came to the City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety with munitions, which turned out to be an inert mortar round and .30 caliber bullets, to the the department’s headquarters at 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW. For safety, the department closed its offices until the Michigan State Police Bomb Squad was able to clear the items.

“We usually ask people to call the police department before bringing stuff in,” said Roney, who was one of the members from the Michigan State Bomb squad to respond to last week’s call. “We really do not want people to drive around with these items in their car because they don’t know if they are live.”

According to experts, munitions can become more volatile and unpredictable as the items age, so police urge residents to leave the items where they are discovered and call the police. 

“Some of the items can be highly explosive,” Roney said, adding that dynamite and blasting caps are examples of such items.

“Farmers often had dynamite or blasting caps to blow up stumps,” he said. “If you come across these items, they can still be very dangerous.”

Roney said his unit gets quite a few calls for found old munitions. There are stories of a person who noticed a neighbor’s doorstop was an old 60-millimeter shell but most people just find items stored in in a forgotten box in the home after the person has died. 

For people who come across such items, evacuate the area and call the local police department which in turn will reach out to the the Michigan State Bomb Squad, Roney said.

All items are properly disposed of by the Michigan State Bomb Squad, he said.

It is estimated that 500,000 World War II, 2.25 million Korean War, and about 850,000 Vietnam War veterans were still living in 2018.


Michigan-based Northern United Brewing Company Goes International

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Playground BrewingBy: Dianna Higgs-Stampfler

The makers of Jolly Pumpkin and North Peak Beer would like to announce their partnership with Seoul-based brewery, Playground. The craft beer industry in South Korea is just awakening and Playground Brewery is looking to bring variety and change to a country used to light lagers.

NUBC has been working with and training partners, Richard Kim and Soonbong Chun for over a year.  Training has taken place in the United States and in South Korea. Master Brewer and NUBC Partner, Mike Hall, is currently in Korea to assist with the final phase of the brewery install.

“We’ve installed a 37BBL system that will allow Playground to brew beers that are currently unavailable in Korea.  This is an exciting moment for us and for the burgeoning craft beer movement that is occurring in Korea.  Playground expects to have their systems in place and brew their inaugural batch this week.

Playground BreweryPlayground is focusing all of their talent and energy producing keg beer at this time, to provide the 10 million residents of Seoul locally made, hand craft beer at an affordable price. Continued growth is in the plans, but the primary focus is to brew the highest quality craft beer and be at the forefront of the artisan craft beer industry in Korea.  An on-site bistro will accompany the brewery and feature two amazing young chefs from Le Cordon Bleu.

Don’t Pause, Just Play. That’s the mantra Playground Brewery wants to convey, a fun side to overstressed Korean society. All partners are family men who cherish playground moments with their young children. “We remembered the best times we had with our children in photos at the playground,” says Richard Kim, Playground Brewery Founder and Partner.  Family values and time spent together on a playground helped derive the brewery’s name.

Playground Brewery is set to have a soft opening December 9th, with an official opening planned for December 19th. Beers scheduled for the opening are The Gentlemen, a Czech Pilsner; The Mistress, a Saison; and The Monk, a Korean IPA. “We are sure we will brew great beers that don’t exist in Korea’s market today. Our Partnership with NUBC enabled us to get here and we see them as more than just a partner,” Soonbong Chun, Playground Brewery Founder and Partner shared as the brewery opening draws near.

The brewery is located in the outskirts of Seoul at Gyeonggi-do, Goyang city,Ilsan seogu, Isanpo-gil 246-11. http://www.playgroundbrewery.com/

Northern United Brewing Company encompasses Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, North Peek Beer Co. craft beer brands, Nomad Cidery, as well as Civilized Spirits and Bonafide Wines. NUBC’s philosophy focuses on a dedication to conservation, inspiration and locally sustainable practices.

This article was republished with permission from Dianna at Promote Michigan. We do our best to help with the promotion of the great State of Michigan!