At a time when the United States’ relationship with both North Korea and South Korea is precarious, C. Kenneth Quinones, a former U.S. diplomat serving as North Korea Desk Officer, will be discussing the strained relations among the countries at a luncheon symposium Wednesday.

Young Kihl, professor of political science, will be moderating a question-and-answer session at the end of Quinones’ speech. Kihl, who has been teaching for 42 years and has written 16 books, said this is a learning experience for all involved.

Quinones’ speech, titled “U.S. Korea Relations: What a Difference Ten Years Makes” will discuss the six-party talks from the viewpoints of both Washington and Pyongyang.

“The current South Korean president was elected on a platform of anti-American sentiment,” said Kwan Choi, professor of the Center for Agricultural and Rural Development.

In December 2002, there were violent demonstrations in Seoul after two U.S. soldiers were acquitted on charges of negligent homicide after killing two South Korean teenage girls with their armored vehicle.

Choi said South Korean President Roh-Moo-Hyun ran a campaign that opposed expanding relations with the United States, because of the increased anti-American sentiment at the time.

The proliferation of nuclear weapons in North Korea is a subject that will also be discussed, Choi said. On Sept. 19 at the six-party talks, North Korea agreed to a plan put forth by China that would involve the country giving up its nuclear weapons program.

Richard Mansbach, professor of political science, said China and South Korea have a vested interest in preventing a war between the United States and North Korea.

He said South Koreans believe a war would cause the rapid unification of North and South Korea because of the inflow of refugees; this is something South Koreans wouldn’t like.

On the other hand, the Chinese would like to keep North Korea – the only other Communist government in the region – afloat, Mansbach said.

The luncheon, which will be held in the Campanile Room of the Memorial Union, will be preceded by two panel discussions in the Gallery Room, which are both open to the public.

The first panel discussion, which begins at 8:45 a.m. and should last for an hour and a half, will be on South Korean politics and foreign policy.

This will be moderated by James McCormick, chairman of the political science department. Mansbach, Scott Rembrandt, director of the Korea Economic Institute, and David Skidmore, professor of political science at Drake University, will all sit on the panel.

The second panel discussion, set to begin at 10:30 a.m. and will also last for an hour and a half, is focusing on economic and trade issues.

The moderator is Labh Hira, dean of the College of Business. Choi, John Wong, associate professor of marketing and Kathy Hill from the International Market Office of the Iowa Department of Economic Development are the panel members.

Registration for the symposium begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday in the Gallery of the Memorial Union.

The luncheon will be an invitation-only event beginning at noon and will be open to the public at 12:20 p.m.