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The Koreas
Seeking North Korea Breakthrough, Seoul Looks to Biden Administration
By Mitch Shin
The Moon administration starts dialogue with the new U.S. administration, hoping to induce Pyongyang to reactivate back channels for negotiations.
South Korea’s Vision for a More Inclusive Pandemic Recovery
By Kyle Ferrier
South Korea was already struggling with economic inequality. The pandemic has made things worse.
The Tactical Implications of North Korea’s Military Modernization
By Liang Tuang Nah
Displays of new North Korean military equipment are likely meant to implement deterrence via posturing, with no real impact on the regional balance of power.
Conflict Between South Korea and Japan Surges Again With Court’s ‘Comfort Women’ Decision
By Mitch Shin
The Japanese government rejected a court ruling on compensation for South Korean women forced into sexual slavery during World War II.
President Moon Is Still Hopeful for North Korea Talks
By Mitch Shin
In a press conference on Monday, South Korean President Moon Jae-in expressed his wish to resume talks with North Korea – including hosting Kim Jong Un in Seoul.
Chatbot Gone Awry Starts Conversations About AI Ethics in South Korea
By Dongwoo Kim
The “Luda” AI chatbot sparked a necessary debate about AI ethics as South Korea places new emphasis on the technology.
North Korea Holds Nighttime Military Parade After Party Congress
By Mitch Shin
After the Workers’ Party’s Eighth Congress, North Korea held a military parade to display its missiles, with an emphasis on SLBMs (and a curious absence of ICBMs).
North Korea Holds Huge Military Parade as Kim Vows Nuclear Might
By Associated Press
The parade, which included a new submarine-launched ballistic missile, closed out the eight-day Workers' Party congress.
South Korea’s Supreme Court Upholds 20-Year Sentence for Former Pres. Park Geun-hye
By Mitch Shin
The 2016 Candlelight Revolution finally ended with the Supreme Court’s final sentence for Park. Now the focus turns to a potential pardon.
South Korea’s Moon Lays Out Agenda for the Remainder of His Term
By Troy Stangarone
President Moon Jae-in’s New Year’s Address reveals the focus for his last full year in office. Unsurprisingly, COVID-19 recovery tops the list.
5 Key Takeaways from North Korea’s Party Congress
By Gabriela Bernal
North Korea set an assertive tone for 2021 through its Party Congress.
Kim Jong Un Declares North Korea Will Advance Nuclear Capabilities
By Mitch Shin
During the Eighth Party Congress, Kim vowed to enhance the country’s missile programs and nuclear power – a worrying sign for diplomacy with the U.S. and South Korea.