Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker. Courtesy photo

Staff Report

Dr. Siegfried S. Hecker, former director of Los Alamos National Laboratory and presently affiliated with Stanford University, will deliver a free public lecture in Los Alamos entitled “Iran and North Korea, what a difference a year makes!”

The lecture will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1967 18th St. in Los Alamos.

“One year ago, Iran’s President Ahmadinejad was threatening to wipe Israel off the face of the map while Iran’s nuclear program was progressing steadily, Hecker said. “Now, recently elected President Hassan Rouhani and his foreign minister Javad Zarif are pursuing a nuclear deal and rapproachement with the West.

“In North Korea, the young, Swiss-educated Kim appeared to be willing to compromise with the West. But recently he carried out one of the most brutal leadership purges, including executing his uncle. In the meantime the North’s nuclear program is moving ahead on all fronts. I will provide a perspective on these two nuclear cases based on interactions with key officials from both countries.”