In the final year of George W. Bush’s presidency, Washington finds itself engaged in continued multilateral negotiations with Pyongyang. In striking contrast to its earlier approaches, the Bush administration now emphasizes the desirability of a comprehensive diplomatic solution to the North Korean problem.

Are talks and renegotiated agreements realistic means of mitigating the international community’s current concerns about the Kim Jong Il regime? If so, what should the diplomatic agenda be? How should the United States approach the unresolved diplomatic issues, which range from North Korea’s nuclear disclosure and the prospective removal of the country from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism to Pyongyang’s alleged abduction of foreign nationals and the regime’s persistent violation of human rights? On January 17, key experts and practioners will discuss these and other pressing questions looming on this year’s policy horizon. Jay P. Lefkowitz, special envoy for North Korean human rights at the State Department, will give the keynote speech.