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The Koreas

April 22, 2022
Moon and Kim Exchange Letters Amid Frozen Inter-Korea Relations
By Mitch Shin
Less than three weeks before Moon Jae-in leaves office, the leaders of the two Koreas exchanged hand-written letters talking up the efforts of the peace process.

April 21, 2022
Loyalty for Luxury: How the Kim Family Buys Support From North Korean Elites
By Jason Bartlett
Similar to his father and grandfather, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un uses a combination of fear tactics and gift giving to help secure his influence over members of the North Korean elite.

April 18, 2022
It’s Time for K-pop Stars to Speak Out on Human Rights
By Gi-Wook Shin, Haley M. Gordon, and Maleah Webster
With few exceptions, South Korea’s K-pop idols have been conspicuously silent on controversial subjects – including the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

April 16, 2022
North Korea Marks Key Anniversary But No Word on Military Parade
By Hyung-Jin Kim and Kim Tong-Hyung
Kim Il Sung’s birth anniversary, the most important national holiday in North Korea, passed without the expected military parade or any missile testing.

April 16, 2022
How Much Are South Koreans Willing to Pay Toward the US Alliance?
By Timothy S. Rich, Maggie Fields, Kierigan McEvoy, and Joe Black
South Koreans are generally supportive toward hosting U.S. troops, but their preferred cost-sharing levels are below what Seoul already pays.

April 14, 2022
Kim Gives North Korea’s Most Famous Newscaster a Luxury Home
By Hyung-jin Kim
Experts say Kim is providing special treatment to elite North Koreans to boost their loyalty as he grapples with myriad challenges.

April 13, 2022
What to Expect From Yoon Suk-yeol’s Policy on North Korea
By Mitch Shin
The incoming Yoon administration will change Seoul’s overtures on North Korea issues. As a result, the arms race will likely be intensified in the coming years.

April 12, 2022
3 North Koreans Provide a Glimpse of North Korea’s Worsening Economic Situation
By Jeong Tae Joo
Locals report increasing starvation deaths and disappearances among their neighbors, but Pyongyang is most concerned with preventing the harsh reality from souring planned celebrations.

April 06, 2022
Do South Koreans Support a Peace Treaty With the North?
By Timothy S. Rich
A recent survey finds a majority of Koreans approve of the idea -- even among supporters of President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol.

April 04, 2022
What to Make of Kim Yo Jong’s Verbal Attack of South Korea’s Defense Minister
By Mitch Shin
Three days after Defense Minister Suh Wook underscored the South’s preemptive strike capabilities, Pyongyang warned that Seoul was facing a serious threat.

April 01, 2022
North Korea’s Latest Launch Signals Impending Spiral
By Eric Gomez
The steady pace of North Korea’s improving nuclear arsenal paints a very worrying picture about where things are headed on the Korean Peninsula.

March 31, 2022
How South Korea Can Wean Itself off Russian Fossil Fuels
By Troy Stangarone
With the prospect of further disruptions from the war to energy supplies, South Korea should take a serious look at its own energy vulnerabilities.