Glyn Ford attacks the myths which paint North Korea as a rogue state run by a mad leader. Informed by extraordinary access to the country’s leadership, Glyn Ford investigated the regime from the inside, providing game-changing insights, which Trump and his administration have failed to do. While acknowledging that North Korea is a deeply flawed and repressive state, he will nonetheless explain to you how sections of the leadership are desperate to modernise and end their isolation.

Glyn Ford has served as a British Labour MEP for 25 years. During his time in the European Parliament, he specialised in international trade, and in particular on EU trade relations with Asia. After leaving the Parliament, he carried on his work in this field by starting Track2Asia, an NGO specialised in track II relations between the EU and Asia. Within this framework, he carries out significant activity on North Korea with Jonathan Powell and has visited North Korea almost 50 times. Glyn Ford was until October a member of the Labour Party’s International Committee. He is the author of North Korea on the Brink (Pluto, 2007).