Maiko Takeuchi is a member of the Panel of Experts established pursuant to resolution 1874 (2009) (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea/North Korea), UN Security Council. She has been serving on the Panel since 2016. She has 20 years of experience in conducting investigations and analysis of North Korea’s nuclear issue within the UN and the Government of Japan, including capability assessments, analysis of key facilities and strategic export-control issues.

Takeuchi joined Japan’s Ministry of Defense in 2001. During her career, she was appointed to the Embassy of Japan in the Republic of Korea as First Secretary and Civilian Defense Attaché from 2012 to 2016. From 2010 to 2011, she worked on cyber-security strategy and communication systems in the Ministry of Defense, and from 2008 to 2010, she worked on strategic export control as the chief of the research and planning office at the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. From 2004 to 2005 she was appointed to the Cabinet Secretariat for National Security and Crisis Management, where she worked as an assistant manager for policy coordination on Iraq policy and Japan-US alliance.                                                                                                                       

Takeuchi is a visiting scholar at the Center for Negotiation and Dispute Resolution Research, Waseda University. She has written a number of articles, including “Smart Language: How to Address an Inherent Weakness Undermining the Implementation of U.N. Sanctions on North Korea” (International Law Studies, Vol. 96 (2020)). She holds a Master’s degree in Regional Studies East Asia from Harvard University, and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Tokyo. She is fluent in English, Korean, and Chinese.

"I am now working as a member of the Panel of Experts to monitor implementation of UN Security Council sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), with another seven members from like-minded countries including China and the Republic of Korea.

I started my career in 2001, as a civilian policy planning officer at the Ministry of Defense, right after I graduated from the University of Tokyo, faculty of law. I studied IR in the RSEA program from 2005 to 2007, on a scholarship for junior government officials. After that I experienced several positions in the Government of Japan, including non-proliferation and strategic export control officer at the Ministry of Economy Trade and Industry and civilian defense attaché at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul.

I believe the network and knowledge acquired in RSEA have been helping my career development very much. I still enjoy deep discussion with my RSEA classmates who are now in key positions in Governments. My knowledge on the international relations in East Asia, Korean and Chinese language skills, and critical thinking which I developed in the program were vital tools to accomplish my mission as a Japanese diplomat in Seoul, and my current position tackling the DPRK’s WMD development in the United Nations. Moreover, I cultivated my attitude to actively interact with people, through the encouragement of Professors and RSEA classmates...a shy student sitting in the back of the classroom became one of the most active students, even in the Kennedy School negotiation class after one year!

I am very impressed at the effort of the faculty members and staff to support students and even alumni under your leadership. This close interaction is one of the great strengths of the program."