The Two Koreas Mark 30 Years of UN Membership: The Road to Membership
September marked the 30th anniversary of the entry of North Korea and South Korea into full membership in the United Nations.
North Korean Fears of South Korean Culture
Kim Jong-un has called K-pop a ‘vicious cancer’ but whether it will destabilize the North Korean regime is impossible to say.
Career Paths to the North Korean Politburo Part 3: Personalism, New Directions and Reading the Tea Leaves
As individuals virtually unknown to outsiders become appointed to North Korea’s Politburo, what helps to explain their metoric rise to power?
Career Paths to the North Korean Politburo Part 2: Toward Military-Civilian Fusion?
Recent appointments to North Korea’s Politburo straddle the economic-military divided and look something like China’s strategy of military-civilian fusion.
Career Paths to the North Korean Politburo Part 1: Trends under Kim Jong-un
One prominent strand of North Korea watching takes the form of tracking individual personnel movements: the ups and downs associated with retirements, purges and the…
Opportunities and Pitfalls of an End of War Declaration for Korea
While an end of war declaration poses some opportunities for cooperation between the U.S. and North Korea, there are also reasons why it may not accomplish its stated aims.
Lift or Extend Travel Ban for U.S. Citizens to North Korea?
In 2017, the United States authorized a travel ban prohibiting U.S. citizens from traveling “into, through or in North Korea. Will it be renewed?
Enigmatic Foreign Ministry Article Accuses U.S. of “Sinister Political Purpose” in Providing Humanitarian Aid
A recent article from North Korea on U.S. humanitarian aid—despite the discussion of the “sinister political purpose” of aid—may be a first cautious outreach.
The North Korean Wave Was Never a Symbol of Liberalization
North Korea’s increasingly diverse offerings in music, TV programs, cosmetics, and others were never indicators of broader liberalization.
North Korean Sanctions Evasion: The UN Panel of Experts Report
If the data reported by the UN Panel of Experts is correct, North Korea is already getting significant de facto sanctions relief.