Former US Ambassador to South Korea James Laney, who helped resolve 1994 nuclear crisis, dies at 98

James Laney, who served as the U.S. ambassador to South Korea and worked to resolve the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, has died at his home in Atlanta, Georgia. He was 98.

Born in Arkansas in 1927, Laney first came to Korea in 1947 as a U.S. Army Counterintelligence Corps agent. He later returned as a Methodist missionary in 1959, teaching theology at Yonsei University and building relationships with various figures. From 1977, he served for 16 years as president of Emory University in the United States. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing the Carter Center for peace and human rights research with former U.S. President Jimmy Carter.

As ambassador from 1993 to 1997, Laney navigated the tense period of North Korea's withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He collaborated with President Bill Clinton and former President Carter to avert a crisis, persuading Clinton to send Carter as a special envoy to open dialogue with North Korea.

After his ambassadorship, Laney co-chaired the Korea Task Force at the Korea Society from 1997 to 2003. He maintained ties with the Atlanta Korean community and spoke on Korean Peninsula issues even after retirement. A memorial service is scheduled for the 21st in Atlanta.

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The deceased served as ambassador during the tense period when North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1994, but avoided crisis by cooperating with then-President Bill Clinton and former President Carter.