Please welcome the 2026 alumni class of NCNK's Knowing North Korea Workshop! The program was an incredible success thanks to the curious participants, insightful speakers, and hardworking staff who joined NCNK in Washington DC last week.
Special thanks to speakers Frank Jannuzi, Kayla Orta, Robert Carlin, Frank Aum, Sharon Squassoni, Dr. John Byrd, Kathryn Weathersby, Rorry Daniels, Jerome Sauvage, Joy Yoon, Richard Stone, Stephen Noerper, Jonathan Corrado, Latoya Jackson, Carita Reid, Elizabeth Smith and Susan Thornton for their commitment to developing the next generation of US-North Korea specialists.
Workshop Participants
Daniel Aum is a PhD candidate in international affairs at Georgia Tech. He is interested in the intersection of grand strategy, U.S. foreign policy decision-making, and leader-level analysis. He worked at RAND as a Summer Associate and Adjunct Policy Researcher. He served as a Harold Rosenthal Fellow both with the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation. At the National Bureau of Asian Research, he was the Senior Director for Public Affairs and Washington D.C. Director. He served as a fellow with the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. Earlier, he worked on an international strategic litigation team at the Robert and Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center. He holds a BA from Baylor University, a JD from The George Washington University Law School, and an MA from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service.
Sam Baron is a Research Fellow at the Yokosuka Council on Asia-Pacific Studies (YCAPS), and an incoming Ph.D. candidate in East Asian Studies at the University of Cambridge. His research and commentary on geopolitical developments across the Indo-Pacific region have been featured in or cited by think tank and media outlets including Foreign Policy, The South China Morning Post, Nikkei Asia, The Japan Times, the ISEAS Yusof-Ishak Institute, and Lowy Institute, among others.
Dilieth Borges is a graduate student in the Global Governance, Politics, and Security (GGPS) program at American University, specializing in Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific. She holds dual Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Environmental Science & Policy from Lynn University, as well as an Associate’s degree in Behavioral Science. Her interests focus on the intersection of development and security, particularly how governance, economic statecraft, and regional cooperation shape stability and legitimacy in Northeast Asia, with a focus on the Korean Peninsula.
Junna Chang is a rising second year Master of Arts candidate in the Asian Studies program at Georgetown's School of Foreign Service (SFS). Her research interests sit at the intersection of North Korean security, information, and human rights, specifically how information flows shape international perceptions of North Korea and constrain or enable diplomatic engagement. Junna is currently the Chief of Staff for the Korea Policy Club at SFS and interns at Portman Square Group, a geopolitical risk and intelligence firm. She was formerly a Global Future Leaders Initiative intern for the Inaugural Potomac Dialogue 2025, organized by the Center for Asia Pacific Strategy. Prior to moving to D.C., Junna graduated Magna Cum Laude from New York University in 2025 with a B.A. in Global Studies, concentrating in Politics, Rights, and Development, and double minors in Peace and Conflict Studies and Global Education Studies. She was recognized as a University Honors Scholar and a four-year Dean’s List recipient. Her honors include the 2023 Boren Scholarship and Global Access Grant for study in Ghana, selection as a Dean’s Circle Scholar for study in Abu Dhabi, the Dean’s Global Research Grant for research in South Korea, and the Most Outstanding Thesis Award for her project titled “Shaping a Nuanced Understanding of North Korea.”
Conrad Chipman is a North Korea–focused researcher and incoming M.A. candidate in Asian Studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. His work centers on Korean Peninsula security, DPRK external relations, and human rights, drawing on experience in policy writing, open-source research, research editing, and Korean-to-English source analysis. He currently serves as a Research Intern at the Database Center for North Korean Human Rights and as a Journal Intern at North Korean Review, where he supports research, publication, and analysis on North Korea-related issues.
Janessa Chu is a recent graduate of the Master’s in International Affairs program at The George Washington University, specializing in East Asia and U.S. foreign policy. Her work focuses on the Korean Peninsula, with particular emphasis on North Korea’s foreign policy, diplomatic strategy, and engagement with major powers such as the United States and China. She is interested in how Pyongyang leverages diplomacy and economic statecraft to navigate regional and global pressures. Janessa previously interned at the Brookings Institution, U.S. Department of the Treasury, United Nations, where she supported research on regional security, economic policy, and multilateral cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
Cary Dornier is an incoming Master of Arts candidate in Security Studies at Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service, where he will pursue a concentration in international security. He graduated from Pitzer College with a B.A. in Political Studies and studied abroad at Lingnan University in Hong Kong, where he focused on international relations and Northeast Asia. Cary has held multiple internships in the U.S. House of Representatives, including in the offices of Eric Swalwell, John Garamendi, and Pete Aguilar, where he supported legislative research and policy work related to national security and oversight. He is also an alumnus of the Make Room Mentorship Program at the Center for a New American Security. His academic and professional interests include U.S. foreign policy, East Asian security, nuclear risk, human security, migration policy, and the role of Congress in shaping national security strategy. He is particularly interested in approaches to the Korean Peninsula that balance deterrence with credible pathways for diplomacy.
Greg Doty is originally from Lake Peekskill, New York, and is currently pursuing an M.A. in Eurasian, Russian, and East European Studies at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service. He earned his B.A. in History from Pace University, with minors in Russian and Middle Eastern Studies, and studied in St. Petersburg, Russia, from 2014 to 2015. Greg commissioned as an Infantry Officer through Army ROTC and served six years on active duty, including assignments in Germany and deployments supporting NATO operations across Eastern Europe and the South Caucasus. In 2023, he deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. After leaving the military and before coming to Georgetown, Greg worked in eastern and southern Ukraine supporting humanitarian efforts and frontline responders. His academic and professional work focuses on Russia and its role in Northeastern Asia. He speaks Russian and Polish and is currently studying Korean. Greg lives in Arlington, Virginia with his wife, Heejin.
Joanne Kim is a 2024 Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Graduate Fellow and Master of International Affairs candidate at Penn State's School of International Affairs (anticipated for completion in May 2026), concentrating on Public Diplomacy and International Public Policy. She has studied issues pertaining to North Korean human rights, Korean diasporic studies, and U.S.-ROK-DPRK relations. Prior to her time at SIA, Joanne earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in Public Relations and an undergraduate certificate in National Security & Intelligence from Auburn University. She has interned for organizations including the U.S. House of Representatives, the Congressional Research Service, and the U.S. Department of State.
Yeji Kim is a DPRK adviser at Global Rights Compliance with over a decade of experience supporting North Korean refugees. She holds an MSc in Refugee and Forced Migration Studies from the University of Oxford and is a Certified Legal Interpreter in Korea. Her work spans refugee protection, democratic resilience, and survivor-centred advocacy, contributing to the rescue of over 1,300 refugees and reaching more than 20 million people globally through coverage by BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera.
Sarah Lee is a Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) candidate at Georgetown University, concentrating in Global Politics and Security. Her academic interests include post-conflict initiatives and East Asian regional relations. Prior to joining MSFS, Sarah graduated from Wheaton College with a double B.A. in International Relations and Economics. Her professional experience spans refugee resettlement and public policy work with humanitarian organizations, federally contracted companies, and international non-governmental organizations. Born in California, Sarah has lived and worked in the United States, South Korea, and China. She is eager to continue exploring global policy challenges and to contribute to post-conflict efforts, including public diplomacy and unification initiatives.
Claire Lee is pursuing a Masters in Middle East Policy Studies at Pepperdine University.
Josephine Ørgaard Rasmussen is the Project Manager at the Stockholm Korea Center of the Institute for Security and Development Policy. She graduated with a master’s degree from the University of Southern Denmark in International Security and Law. Following the completion of her master’s degree, she studied Korean at Pukyong National University in Busan for eight months.
Nina Saaty works at the Quaker United Nations Office, focusing on peacebuilding and international engagement on the Korean Peninsula. She tracks UN processes such as the 1718 Sanctions Committee and collaborates with civil society initiatives like Okedongmu Children, Women Cross DMZ, and the Drawing Hope Project to foster dialogue and reconciliation. A Tulane University graduate in Environmental Studies and International Development, Nina’s research and professional interests center on the intersection of climate, security, and international cooperation, exploring nontraditional pathways for engagement with the DPRK.
Felix Soderberg is a master’s student in political science at the Swedish Defense University, where he specializes in international security and strategic studies. He is currently serving as an intern at the Swedish Embassy in Washington, working within the political unit and gaining practical experience in foreign policy and diplomatic affairs. His research interests focus on alliance-building, deterrence, and security dynamics in the Indo-Pacific and on the Korean Peninsula, including the role of North Korea in regional stability. He is particularly interested in how states align and cooperate in response to shifting power balances and emerging security threats. His long-term career goal is to work in international security and foreign policy, contributing to policy analysis and conflict research within government or international institutions.
Jihea Song is a first-year Master of Public Policy candidate at the Harvard Kennedy School, focused on security dynamics in the U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral framework and North Korea policy. A former U.S. Army officer with nine years of service, she spent much of her career in Korea working at the intersection of military operations and diplomacy. Her final assignment at the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission placed her in the Demilitarized Zone, where she conducted inspections and investigations to uphold the 1953 Korean Armistice Agreement. Having grown up in Japan as an ethnic Korean, Jihea brings a cross-cultural perspective to some of Northeast Asia’s most persistent security challenges.
Eddie Witte is an analyst at Crumpton Global, where he advises multinational companies on regulatory compliance, global supply chains, and investment due diligence. He is currently a master’s student at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and a graduate of the Hopkins-Nanjing Center. He is fluent in Chinese.