SEMINAR AT HARVARD ON NORTH KOREA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP86B00985R000400060002-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 9, 2004
• Sequence Number: 2
• Publication Date: December 8, 1980
• Content Type: MF

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8 December 1980.
STATINTL
MEMORANDUM FOR: Associate Chairman, National Intelligence Council
FROM :
THROUGH National Intelligence Officer for East Asia
STATINTL
Assistant NIO for East Asia
STATINTL
1. As you know, I led a group comprised ofi. -j of OER,
of the NIC and myself to Harvard on 4-5 December
to brief on the economic situation in forth Korea and to engage in
substantive discussions with faculty. members on Korea at.the East
Asian Institute. I was surprised and pleased at the warmth of our
reception and the interest shown in the subject matter and in the
Agency generally.
2. The forum for our basic presentation was the New England
Colloquium on Korea which draws in a variety of academics, students and
others interested in Korea from the greater Boston area Our presentation
on the evening of 4 December drew the largest audience to date.-- some
fifty to sixty people ranging from prestigous professors to local ethnic
Korean residents.. There was particular interest in our ability to present
STATINTL a macro picture of the North Korean economy from very limited sources
I I presentation) as well as a very micro view of daily life in
STATINTL the DPRK discussion). By the level of attention, the questions
and the extensive informal discussion which followed the enthusiasm of
the audience was clearly demonstrated. We spoke for in excess of
three and one-half hours. Many of the questions probed for insights
into our analytic techniques none were even remotely hostile.
3. Our formal presentation was followed by a three hour discussion
on Korean affairs both North and South on 5 December with members. of
the Harvard faculty involved with Korea.' The exchange was lively and
informative with the faculty members probing for our views on a wide
variety of issues and freely offering their own. They were particularly
interested in imparting data on sociological aspects of Korea which they
quite correctly surmised were.not given great attention in government
analysis. Indeed, I found that their views in this area provided new
insights into our understanding of the leadership situation in the South
and had potential application for our study of the North as well.
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4. I was greatly encouraged by our exchange and hope to be part of
similar efforts in the future. We tentatively discussed a similar
meeting on South Korea in the spring if and when the air of crisis in the
ROK passes. I would also suggest that exchanges of this sort could prove
a particularly valuable adjunct to the work of OGSR`s new Social Science
Research Division if not as yet considered.
5. I believe that we may safely consider this session the second
academic seminar held this year under NIO/EA asupices, the first being
the symposium on Japan held last April. STATINTL
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