A luncheon event hosted by The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan (FCCJ)

Description: Last month the two sides of the Korean Peninsula came closer to full-scale conflict than at any time since the 1953 armistice that ended the war between them. Although both sides have pulled back from the brink, they remain in a state of hair-trigger tension amid florid saber rattling by Pyongyang and warnings from Seoul that it has reached the end of its patience.

The latest crisis was sparked by the shelling of the southern island Yeonpyeong, Pyongyang says the shelling – aimed at a military base – was provoked by military exercises on the southern side. Undeterred, Seoul plans more drills in the area.

The FCCJ has invited three distinguished scholars to discuss this issue:

-- Gavan McCormack, Emeritus Professor, The Australian National University (and Asia-Pacific Journal Coordinator)

-- Hideshi Takesada, Professor & Executive Director, The National Institute of Defense Studies

-- Haruki Wada, Professor Emeritus, The University of Tokyo (and Asia-Pacific Journal author)

Time: 2010 Dec 15 12:00 - 14:00

Location: FCCJ in Tokyo

Visit the FCCJ website for more information, including luncheon menu.

Language: The speech and Q & A will be in English and Japanese with English interpretation.

Note: This is a luncheon event. Please reserve in advance, still & TV cameras inclusive. The charge for FCCJ members/non-members is 1,700/2,600 yen, non-members eligible to attend may pay in cash.