Korea, North

For the first Korean Kontext podcast of 2017, five members of the KEI staff sat down with host Jenna Gibson for a chat about the volitility of 2016 and what…

The last several rounds of UN sanctions against the DPRK have been called the "strongest ever," and the new sanctions passed on November 30 are no different. There are some…

More than 100 million Americans cast their ballots on November 8, and we have a new president-elect. The Trump victory came as a surprise to most, with polls and pundits…

In this episode, which originally aired in 2011, we hear from author Mike Kim, who speaks with Korean Kontext about his experiences living and working with North Korean refugees on…

By Jenna Gibson Up until the last few weeks, the South Korean public has given President Moon Jae-in an overwhelming mandate. But his recent engagement with the North Koreans as part of the PyeongChang Olympics brought mixed reviews, and lowered his previously sky-high approval ratings, raising concern that his overtures to Pyongyang may isolate Korean…

By Jenna Gibson At the Closing Ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics yesterday, a wide variety of South Korean musicians showed the breadth of Korean music. From today’s hottest k-pop stars to metal to traditional Korean sounds, here is our look at the musicians who showed the world what Korean music has to offer. And,…

By Phil Eskeland After much pressure, the U.S. Department of Commerce just released the study on the effect of imports of steel on U.S. national security that will form the basis of President Donald Trump’s upcoming decision to impose higher tariffs.  The President has until April 11, 2018, to choose among several options outlined in…

By Troy Stangarone When Kim Yo-jong extended Kim Jong-un’s invitation to South Korean President Moon Jae-in to attend a summit meeting in North Korea at the “any convenient time,” President Moon responded by saying that the two Korea’s should work to make the “conditions right.” Creating the right conditions for an inter-Korean summit will be…

Please join KEI for a discussion on North Korea’s potential incorporation of AI into its cyber arsenal.