Impact case study database
Challenging Stereotyped Images of North Korea: Informing Policymakers and the Public Understanding
1. Summary of the impact
Our research on North Korea has directly informed policymakers and their approach to North Korea in the United Nations, the UK, the USA, and South Korea. Our research has helped to inform policy debate, for example by shifting the debate away from existing stereotypes of North Korea. Our extensive media involvement profiling our research has raised the level of public debate and understanding about recent changes in North Korea both within the UK and internationally. Smith’s research has successfully challenged stereotyped images about the country while Lim’s research has informed recent changes in international development cooperation and the implications of this for North Korea.
2. Underpinning research
Smith’s research (2014-2017) has contributed to providing a foundation for better understanding of a changing North Korea. Lim joined the University of Central Lancashire in 2017. Her research focuses on international cooperation policy development towards North Korea. Our research has conclusively shown that we should not deal with North Korea by perpetuating stereotypes. Instead we need to seek innovative approaches, such as a culture of ‘soft accountability’ or ‘tailored accountability’, that operates in the context of fragile states or states under sanctions regimes.
The trajectory of Smith’s research on North Korea has aimed to shift the debate away from tired and unhelpful stereotyping. Such pre-conceptions include: that the government controls every action of every human being in North Korea; that North Korean society never changes; and that North Korea is nothing more than a monolithic aggregation of persons with identical interests and outlooks. Accordingly, Smith’s work has systematically challenged stereotyped views, and demonstrated how and why the economy and society of North Korea was transformed through a marketisation process [1], along with food security and human rights concerns [2].
While Smith provided insight into the politics, economy and society of North Korea, and contributed to changing mind-sets, Lim’s research discussed the direction of international policy by debating norm changes in international development cooperation within the context of accountability, fragility and sustainable development.
The international development community previously imposed one single set of rules for accountability frameworks for both donors and recipient countries. Lim’s research on South-South Cooperation proposed a need for ‘soft accountability’ in unlikely settings, for instance, when dealing with North Korea [3]. Lim’s research on Triangular Cooperation [4] specifically outlines the need for a new approach of development cooperation towards countries like North Korea where traditional approaches are unlikely to be effective. South-South Cooperation refers to middle-income countries (such as China, Brazil and India) providing development aid to low-income countries, in contrast to traditional development aid, which has been provided by the ‘North’ (high-income countries) to the ‘South’ (both low- and middle-income developing countries). Triangular Cooperation means that traditional donor governments provide development aid to middle-income countries, while these middle-income countries provide technical assistance to low-income countries.
In her recent research [5], Lim combined these two research findings and provided a new policy suggestion for international organisations and bilateral donor governments which are likely to provide development aid to North Korea in a post-sanctions era. Lim’s research findings suggest the need of new approaches, such as tailored and constructive accountability, in development aid to North Korea, rather than maintaining ineffective existing methods, such as punitive sanctions. Lim’s research has focussed on the need for a paradigm shift of the culture of national accountability in North Korea, in line with global accountability. With particular regard to North Korea, Lim’s research focuses on the shift from punitive to constructive approaches in atypical settings..
This research has been significant at an academic level and has been rigorously cited and positively reviewed by leading journals, academic associations, research institutes and policy briefs, confirming the significance of challenging existing perceptions of North Korea.
3. References to the research
- Smith, H. (2015). North Korea: Markets and Military Rule. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
ISBN: 978-0-521-89778-5 (Hardback); and 978-0-521-72344-2 (Paperback),
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139021692
- Smith, H. (2016). ‘Nutrition and Health in North Korea: What’s New, What’s Changed and Why It Matters’. North Korean Review, 12(1). pp7-34.
ISSN: 1551-2789
- Kim, T and S. Lim (2017). ‘Forging 'Soft' Accountability in Unlikely Settings: A Conceptual Analysis of Mutual Accountability in the Context of South-South Cooperation’. Global Governance, 23(2). pp.183-203.
ISSN: 1075-2846, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/19426720-02302004,
- Lim, S. (2019). ‘Determinants of Aid Modalities: A Case of South Korea on Triangular Cooperation and its Implication towards North Korea’. North Korean Review, 15(1). pp.73-93.
ISSN: 1551-2789,
- Lim, S. (2019). ‘North Korea and the United Nations: Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Context of Fragile States’. IKSU Working Paper, Vol. 2019 No. 1. Preston: International Institute of Korean Studies.
- Evidence of quality: all are peer reviewed.
4. Details of the impact
Lim and Smith’s research has contributed to informing international policy and has informed individual policymakers and broader debate through roundtable discussions and high-level briefings of senior government officials. The research has also had an impact on enhancing public debate and understanding of North Korea through engagement with the UK and international media. Their research has been extensively drawn upon as resources for factual knowledge and an analytical understanding of why change occurs in North Korea.
Informing policymakers internationally: enabling understanding and informed responses to North Korea
Smith’s research on the existing military and marketisation in North Korea [1] has been cited six times in the UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner Report 2019. It has informed policy formation by the UN on discussions of human rights [A2]. Lim’s research on ‘soft accountability’ for South-South Cooperation [3] has been shared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) officials on its website [A1] and informed international policymakers about new approaches to development aid in North Korea and the ‘soft accountability’ approach. One of the Independent Group of Scientists for the UN Global Sustainable Development Report stated: “.. her [Lim’s] recent research on soft accountability in South-South Cooperation has been shared with UNDP officials as well as bilateral donor community” [A3].
In December 2014 , the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) published a report on religious freedom in North Korea. Drawing on Smith’s research, Smith gave oral evidence to the APPG [1] and was cited 11 times in the report. The Chair mentioned : “Especial thanks are also due to … Hazel Smith, …” [C]. Based on her research [1], Smith was invited to give internal briefings to officials at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). In December 2018, Lim gave a public lecture at School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, about her on-going research on framing North Korea as a fragile state and addressing the issue of accountability in the regime [5] [B]. In December 2014, Smith was invited to Chatham House to address a group of diplomats from South Korea, including the Foreign Minister, His Excellency Yun Byung-Se. Smith discussed with the group the issue of South Korean policy on unification and the denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula [D-2]. This discussion was informed by her research on markets and military rule [1]. In February 2016, Smith was also invited to present her work [1] to the former foreign minister of South Korea, His Excellency Yoon Young-Kwan, at an invitation-only programme for South Korean government officials. In September 2016, Smith’s other research [2] informed an internal report which was written for Columbia University Law School in New York and the Korea Institute for National Unification [F] and presented to the National Assembly in South Korea.
In March 2019, Lim was invited to Chatham House for a roundtable discussion, informing policymakers including Her Excellency Enna Park, South Korea Ambassador to the UK, Professor Ki-Jung Kim, advisor to South Korea President Moon Jae-In and President of the Institute for National Security Strategy, and Mr Haksoon Paik, President of Sejong Institute, a well-known national security think-tank in South Korea. The roundtable focused on the need to seek alternative ways to support North Korea’s economic normalisation based on Lim’s research findings [3, 4, 5] [D1]. Discussion held during this roundtable was reported to high-level government officials in South Korea. Shortly after, Lim was invited to a private meeting with a South Korean diplomat to provide advice on North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un’s response to the recent Hanoi Summit held in February 2019. Lim has also been asked to provide advice on North Korea by various South Korean diplomats. It was stated by a North Korea expert, who previously had worked for the Ministry of Unification in South Korea that: “Especially for the government of South Korea, the implications from her [Lim] research on Triangular Cooperation can bring a significant policy change, while her research on constructive accountability can bring a breakthrough to the international society under the current sanctions regime.” [E] Lim argues in her research that current sanctions do not work in North Korea but have brought more harm to the ordinary lives of North Koreans. In this context, she has suggested a more productive approach for the sake of the people in North Korea. Based on her research on accountability in North Korea [5], Lim was invited to the Korea Global Forum for Peace (KGFP) held by the Ministry of Unification in South Korea [D3]. This demonstrated that her research is both recognised and used by the government of South Korea. An email was sent to Lim from the Minister of Unification mentioning that the: “Ideas discussed during the KGFP2020 will be reflected upon our government’s policy for the peace and prosperity of the Korean Peninsula.” [D4] This international forum has been held annually, bringing policy makers, scholars and experts about North Korea together, with all of the materials being open access and available to the public.
Informing public debate and understanding about North Korea
Both Smith and Lim’s media interviews have extensively informed public debate and understanding about recent changes in North Korea. Lim’s research [3, 4, 5] was featured and quoted in media interviews and newspapers more than 45 times between April 2018 and October 2020 [G1-21]. Lim’s media profile has enabled her to reach a very wide audience. This has informed public understanding, as demonstrated by her BBC Breakfast interview in June 2019. Following the broadcast Lim received feedback from a member of the public, which stated that the interview ‘brought insight and perspective’ about North Korea-US negotiations. Lim is the sole presenter of a short BBC film documentary about North Korean leadership structures and the role of Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jung-un. It focuses on her influence on policy decision making processes. The purpose of the documentary was to highlight the influential role of Kim Yo-jong as somebody who may succeed her brother in the future [G22]. James Wignall, BBC journalist stated that “it was very well-received and widely-viewed.” [G22] In December 2019 and again in August 2020, Lim’s interviews with Channel News Asia about North Korea reached 18,000 members of the public [G21, G23].
5. Sources to corroborate the impact
A. Informing policymakers at the United Nations
UNDP Document Sharing: https://www.undp.org/content/dam/uspc/docs/2014-1.3.10-v2.pdf
UN Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner Report 2019: https://www.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/WopiFrame.aspx?sourcedoc=/Documents/Countries/KP/ThePriceIsRights_EN.pdf&action=default&DefaultItemOpen=1
on Impact Tracker Evidence Vault: Testimonial letter by Professor Eun Mee Kim, one of the Independent Group of Scientists for the Global Sustainable Development Report (GSDR) of the UN
B. Informing public understanding in the UK, public lecture at SOAS, University of London: https://www.soas.ac.uk/koreanstudies/events/seminars/07dec2018-un-sustainable-development-goals-in-the-context-of-korean-peninsula.html
C. All Party Parliamentary Group on International Freedom of Religion or Belief by Open Doors UK & Ireland Report: https://freedomdeclared.org/media/Religion-and-Belief-in-the-DPRK-APPG-on-FoRB-report-Dec-2014.pdf
D. Informing policymakers and debate in South Korea (and UK)
Chatham House Roundtable ‘Prospects for Economic Normalization with the DPRK’: https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/prospects-economic-normalization-dprk
Chatham House Roundtable ‘Security on the Korean Peninsula’: https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/security-korean-peninsula
Korea Global Forum for Peace held by the Ministry of Unification in South Korea: https://kgfp.kr/eng/sub02/program_2.html; and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhkaLOq2BME&feature=youtu.be
Official email by the Minister of Unification in South Korea
E. Testimonial letter by Professor Seok Hyang Kim, former Ministry of Unification of South Korea
F. Informing policymakers and debate in South Korea (and US), Columbia-KINU Joint Project on Inter-Korean Law and Policy: https://kls.law.columbia.edu/research-projects/columbia-kinu-joint-project-inter-korean-law-and-policy
G. Informing public understanding and debate through public access, media interviews and newspaper quotes
1-21. on Impact Tracker Evidence Vault: Examples of media interviews & newspaper interviews (including BBC, France 24 and The Independent): can be found at the Impact Tracker
BBC Documentary and Email: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk\-53063831
Informing public understanding and debate through public access, Channel News Asia (CBA) media interview with public access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtTnsAIAKEk
Additional contextual information
Grant funding
| Grant number | Value of grant |
|---|---|
| AKS-2018-C-20 | £9,727 |
| AKS-2018-R-25 | £10,768 |
| AKS-2019-C-10 | £6,112 |