Thirty-five Asian affairs experts from 12 countries began a two-day symposium here Wednesday to discuss issues involving Northeast Asia, with special attention paid to North Korea, organizers said.
Participants in the third annual International Symposium on Korea and the Search for Peace in Northeast Asia will discuss the North Korean economy and security and the roles of the United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum.
U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Stephen Bosworth said in his keynote speech that North and South Korea are not expected to be unified in the near future.
North Korea's military will remain a threat to South Korea, but the two countries will continue to cooperate, especially in the economic area, he said.
The first such symposium, launched by former U.N. Undersecretary General Yasushi Akashi with support from the U.N., took place in 1998.