Hajime IZUMI is Professor of International Relations at Tokyo International University in Japan. He received his undergraduate degree at Chuo University, and his graduate degree at Sophia University in Tokyo, Japan. He conducted research at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea between 1980 and 1982. He was a Senior Research Fellow at the Research Institute for Peace and Security in Tokyo. In 1987 he assumed the post of Associate Professor of the University of Shizuoka in Japan, and from 1995 to March 2016 worked as Professor at the University. From 2003 to March 2016, he was also Director of the University’s Center for Korean Studies. In 1991-1992 he was a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University, and was at the United States Institute of Peace in 1995. He is the author of numerous articles on North Korea’s foreign policy as well as on Japan’s policies towards Korea.