10 Issues to Watch for on the Korean Peninsula in 2017
Our annual look at the events that will shape the Korean peninsula in the coming year.
New Year’s 2017 in Pyongyang: Self-Reliance by Necessity or Design?
Even Kim Jong-un seemed a little melancholy in his New Year’s speech, reflecting perhaps the sad state of international affairs everywhere this winter.
The Year of the Unexpected: A Look Back At the Korean Peninsula in 2016
Whether it was the British vote to leave the European Union in June or the impeachment of the South Korean President Park Geun-hye in December, 2016 will be remembered for a series of unexpected events and the questions they have raised about how they may shape the future.
Tightening the Noose on North Korea: Do the New UN Sanctions Finally Get It Right?
The United Nations sanctions on North Korea’s fourth nuclear test were flawed. The new round tries to get it right.
Kim Jong Un: Crossing the Rubicon and Slipping on the Stones for Economic Reform
Not all is easy for Kim Jong-un as he must soon make important and probably irrevocable decisions with respect to how far he will allow the market economy to expand.
What Might a Trump North Korea Policy Look Like?
As it begins to sink in that the next U.S. president will be Donald Trump, one question that will be on the mind of those in Northeast Asia is what will Donald Trump’s North Korea policy look like?
China’s North Korea Trade Surges in August: Are sanctions busted?
Any hopes that last spring’s “toughest ever” UN Security Council sanctions would cripple North Korea’s economy are likely to be dashed by recently released Chinese customs data.
Why a Hard Embargo of North Korea is Impractical
One option put forward to address North Korea’s nuclear program is a hard embargo where all shipping into and out of North Korea would be blocked.
Understanding North Korea’s Fifth Nuclear Test and Sanctions
North Korea has conducted its fifth nuclear test, the second test in less than a year. In combination with its efforts to advance its ballistic missile programs and develop second strike capabilities, Pyongyang has demonstrated that it is committed to developing a usable nuclear warhead in spite of international pressure to halt its programs and return to talks. In light of this, the question remains how the international community should respond.
Counterfeiting: The Other Way North Korea Finances Its Regime
Even though counterfeiting can bring hard currency to the isolated regime, the mass manufacturing of fake notes sponsored by a state is extremely unusual and risky.