The conference was held on July 25, 2014 co-organized by the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP) and East-West Center (EWC) in Honolulu. The key factors of the conference was to shape the economic future of the major North Pacific countries and the importance of economic cooperation among them. Major topics to be addressed were (1) the macroeconomic performances and outlooks of China, the United States, Korea, and Japan, and the interrelationship among them, (2) the emerging multilateral economic architecture and its implications, with specific reference to the TPP, the RCEP, and China-Japan-Korea free trade prospects, and (3) the future of the North Korean economy and its implications for North Pacific cooperation. The main sessions of the conference covered ‘Prospects for the region’s economies’, ‘Pathways toward trade and investment integration in the North Pacific region’, ‘Assessing economic and social change in North Korea’.

Introduction and Overview 
Affiliations of the Contributors 
Keynote Address
Are Mega Free Trade Agreements the Best Alternative for Advancing Global Trade Liberalization? / Cae-One Kim

Session 1 Prospects for the Region’s Economies
 
Assessing Macroeconomic Policies in the US in Response to the Great Recession / David J. Stockton
Introduction 
Key Characteristics of the Recession and Recovery 
The Response of Monetary and Fiscal Policies 
Prospects for US Macroeconomic Policies and the Implications for the Economy 
Risks to the US Outlook and the Implications for the North Pacific Economies 
Conclusions
 
Challenges and Opportunities in China’s Economy / Wang Yijiang
Introduction  
Economic Challenges for China 
New Opportunities 
Concluding Remarks 

Abenomics and Beyond: The Japanese Economy in the 2010s / Tokuo Iwaisako
Introduction  
Brief Chronology of Abenomics 
Japan’s Macroeconomic Performance under Abenomics 
Potential Dangers for Abenomics 
Conclusion
 
Prospects of the Korean Economy / Il Houng Lee and Seongman Moon
Introduction  
Searching for Lost Economic Growth in Korea 
Reasons for the Decline in Domestic Demand Growth 
Conclusion
 
Commentary:
Prospects for the Region’s Economies: Discussion on Session 1 Papers / Sang-Hyop Lee
Report of the Session Rapporteur:
Prospects for the Region’s Economies: Overview by Session Rapporteur / Michael G. Plummer

Session 2 Pathways toward Trade and Investment Integration in the North Pacific Region 

The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as a Pathway to Asian Integration / Deborah Elms
The Goal: Free-Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP)  
Two of Four Pathways in Play 
The Launch of the TPP 
Specific Benefits of the TPP: Market Access for Goods 
Additional TPP Provisions 
Last-Minute Shaving of Quality? 
TPP Timelines 
TPP Institutional Framework 
Trade and Investment Diversion Coming 
Circling Back to the FTAAP
 
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP): Design, Status, and Challenges / Zhang Jianping and Nie Wei
Status of RCEP Negotiations  
Dilemma of RCEP Negotiations 
Compared with TPP, Is RCEP More Welcomed by Developing Economies in the Asia‑Pacific Region? 
Challenges of the RCEP under the Framework of Five “10+1” FTAs 
General Perceptions or Concerns about FTAs in China 
Implications of RCEP for FTAAP Proposals 
Implications of the RCEP for the North Pacific Economies 
Conclusion
 
China–Japan–Korea Free Trade Agreement (CJK FTA): Design, Status, and Challenges / Dukgeun Ahn
State of the Play of the CJK FTA  
CJK Trade and Economic Assessment Result 
Mega FTA Competition and CJK FTA 
Issues for Negotiation 
Challenges Ahead 

Commentaries:
Pathways toward Trade and Investment Integration in the North Pacific Region: Comments / Kiyoun Sohn
Pathways toward Trade and Investment Integration in the North Pacific Region: Discussion of Papers Presented in Session 2 / Michael G. Plummer
Report of the Session Rapporteur:
Pathways toward Trade and Investment Integration in the North Pacific Region: Overview by Session 2 Rapporteur / Theresa M. Greaney

Session 3 Assessing Economic and Social Change in North Korea 

Can North Korea Follow China’s Path of Reform and Open Door Policy? / Zhou Huji
China’s National Security, the Transformation of Political Concept and Open Door Policy  
Kim Jong Il’s Political Ideas and Survival Strategy 
“Songun Politics”: One of the Political Survival Strategies 
Improved Leader Worship: One of the Political Survival Strategies 
“7.1 Measures”: Economic Survival Strategies 
Nuclear Development and Asymmetric Dampening: International Survival Strategy 
Survival and Emerging from the Crisis: Conclusion and Discussion 

Economic Developments in North Korea / Marcus Nolan
Introduction  
Internal Developments 
External Relations 
Illicit Activities 
Conclusions
 
The Current Situation and Future Prospects of the North Korean Economy / Dongho Jo
Introduction  
The Current Situation 
The Reaction of the North Korean Leadership 
The Future Prospects 

Commentaries:
Assessing Economic and Social Change in North Korea: Discussion on Session 3 Papers / Hyung-Gon Jeong
Assessing the Economic and Social Change in North Korea: Discussion on Session 3 Papers / Nicholas Eberstadt
Report of the Session Rapporteur:
Assessing Economic and Social Change in North Korea: Overview by Session 3 Rapporteur / Anjali Nath

Roundtable Discussion on Strengthening North Pacific Cooperation 
North Pacific Integration from an International Financial Perspective / Hiroyuki Ito
Introduction  
Interest Rates Linkages and Their Implications on Monetary Policy Management  
“Internationalization” of the Renminbi 
Conclusion
 
Comments Based on the Roundtable Discussion / Tokuo Iwaisako
Comments Based on the Roundtable Discussion / Jong Seok Kim
“The Asian Paradox” 
The Limits of Bilateral Talks 
The Need for Multilateral Dialogs 
Soft Issues 
Harmony in Diversity 

Comments Based on the Roundtable Discussion / David J. Stockton
The Global Influences of Half of the World: Comments on North Pacific Cooperation / Wang Yijiang
Report of the Session Rapporteur
Strengthening North Pacific Cooperation: Overview by Roundtable Rapporteur / Duyen Bui

Conference Program
Program 
List of Participants