02/02/2015 6:30pm
The Korea Society
950 Third Ave., 8th Floor, New York, NY 10022

Author Jang Jin-sung, on his first visit to the U.S., discusses his new book, Dear Leader Poet, Spy, Escapee—A Look Inside North Korea, which describes his life in North Korea as a psychological warfare officer and one of Kim Jong-il’s revered “court poets,” as well as his dramatic escape to China and South Korea. Jang will also read selections from his poetry and share insights into North Korea shaped by his experiences as well as contacts with North Korean exiles and overseas officials. The evening’s discussion will be led by Dr. Su Mi Terry, a former CIA analyst and current senior research scholar at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute.

The book will be available for sale, anda reception and book signing will follow.

Jang Jin-sung is a former poet laureate and psychological warfare officer for North Korean leader Kim Jong-il. He originally trained as a classical pianist before being recommended to study literature at Kim Il-sung University. He then joined the United Front Department of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party, eventually charged with overseeing inter-Korean psychological warfare and counterintelligence operations. Since fleeing the country in 2004 he has become a bestselling author and widely solicited commentator on North Korea. Following his arrival in South Korea, Jang worked as a senior research fellow in the National Security Research Institute until 2011, when he left to become the editor in chief of New Focus International, an authoritative website reporting on North Korea. He has been awarded the Rex Warner Literary Prize and read his poetry at London’s Cultural Olympiad in 2012. His first book of poetry, I Am Selling My Daughter For 100 Won, became a bestseller in South Korea and Jang’s memoir, Dear Leader, was published in May 2014.

Dr. Sue Mi Terry spent seven years, from 2001 to 2008, working for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as Senior Analyst for the Directorate of Intelligence. In that role, she regularly monitored and assessed political and economic developments in North Korea and East Asia.

In 2008, Dr. Terry held the position of Director of Korea, Japan, and Oceanic Affairs at the National Security Council (NSC). At the NSC, she played an integral role in the formulation and implementation of US policy towards Northeast Asia, while bridging the gap between two US Presidents during the critical transition period of 2008-2009. Subsequently, Dr. Terry served as Deputy National Intelligence Officer for East Asia at the National Intelligence Council (NIC) in the Office of Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) during 2009-2010. In that role, she advised senior US policymakers on issues of strategic importance in East Asia.

In September 2010, Dr. Terry joined the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) as the National Intelligence Fellow. Her research at the CFR included pressing issues in the Northeast Asian region, particularly Korean Peninsula affairs such as security policy, nuclear strategy, and domestic stability issues.

Dr. Terry switched careers into the private sector in late 2011 and currently works as Managing Director at Gerson Global Advisors, a strategic investment and advisory firm based in New York. In this role, she co-heads the Sovereign Advisory business, and she is primarily responsible for developing and managing the firm’s strategy, activities and client relations in Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

Dr. Terry holds a MA degree in International Relations and a Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University.

For more information, please visit
http://www.koreasociety.org