Sheila Miyoshi Jager on the Topic of Korea

Professor of East Asian studies Sheila Miyoshi Jager participated in conversations with Neal Conan for the podcast Truth, Politics and Power. The episode, titled “Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” aired April 6, 2017.

In the interview, Jager discusses the long historical context of animosity between the two Koreas. The conversation highlights the competition over which Korea is more legitimate, the concept upon which her book Brothers At War: The Unending Conflict in Korea is based.

“The two regimes were established in ’48 when there was a civil war between the two political groups - what I call a ‘legitimacy’ war. They had two very different visions of what modern Korea should become, and each believed they represented the true Korea,” says Jager.

In the conversation, Jager also speaks about possible ways the Korean War could end, along with China's role in the conflict.