High Noon on the Korean Peninsula, Mr Rowan Callick, 'The Australian'

Hosted by: AIIA Victoria

The event will start on: Wednesday, 14 July 2010 5:30 PM

And will end on: Wednesday, 14 July 2010 7:00 PM

At Dyason House

124 Jolimont Road East , Melbourne Victoria

03 9654 7271     admin.vic@aiia.asn.au

Posted by: vic   

Tension between North and South Korea reached a dangerous height a few weeks ago when an international scientific investigation proved that a North Korean submarine's torpedo sank a South Korean corvette, killing 46 sailors.  While the Pyongyang government denies everything and threatens all-out war, and the Seoul authorities have imposed sanctions, regional powers are divided over what to do.  China, North Korea's last friend, has refrained from acting, fearing instability and the collapse of the Kim Jong-il regime.  Japan, South Korea and the United States are much more assertive about the need to temper a rogue regime whose motivations remain a mystery.

To explain the circumstances of an unpredictable and increasingly dangerous stand-off, spiced by Pyongyang's pursuit of nuclear weapons, we are privileged to present an address by Rowan Callick, veteran analyst of the Asia-Pacific region.  Mr Callick participated in the first Australia-Korea Dialogue that was held from May 27-28 in Seoul.  He is one of the few people who have entered the "demilitarised zone" between North and South from both sides, having visited North Korea in late 2007.

Mr Callick grew up in England, graduating with a BA Honours from Exeter University.  He worked for a daily newspaper in the north-east before moving in 1976 to Papua New Guinea, where he became general manager of a locally owned publishing, printing and retail group.  In 1987 he moved to Australia, working for nearly 20 years for the 'Australian Financial Review', finally as Asia-Pacific Editor.  He was China correspondent from 1996-2000.  From 1990-1992 he was a senior writer with 'Time' magazine.  Mr Callick joined ‘The Australian' in 2006 as China correspondent.  After three years in Beijing, he became Asia-Pacific Editor.

He was a member of the National Advisory Council on Aid Policy from 1994-96; a member of the board of the Australia Indonesia Institute from 2001-2006; a member of the Foreign Minister's Foreign Affairs Council from 2003-2006; and a member of the advisory board of the Institute of Excellence in the Asia-Pacific Region at the Australian National University from 2005-2006.  Mr Callick’s book 'Comrades & Capitalists: Hong Kong Since the Handover' was published by the University of NSW Press in 1998.  He won the Graham Perkin Award for Journalist of the Year for 1995, and two Walkley awards, for Asia-Pacific coverage, for 1997 and 2007.

Event Flyer:    AIIAV 2010 Callick Rowan Mr 14.07.10 (142.33 kB)

Tickets payable at the door :

• Members                      $15
• Non-Members                $25
• Student Members            $8
• Student Non-Members    $12

If you plan to attend this function, please advise us at least 1 day before the event.
Snacks and refreshments will be served.