Blog
The Koreas
North Korea Expands Media Ban to Include Chinese Films
By Chelsea Toczauer
The shift to put Chinese media on the blacklist is another signal of strained China-North Korea relations.
Outgoing Japanese Leader Kishida Will Visit South Korea for a Summit on Improving Ties
By Kim Tong-hyung
Seoul said that Kishida, who will step down after internal party elections in September, “actively expressed hope” to end his term on a high note in bilateral relations.
North Korea Shows New Drone Attacking a Target as South Korea, US Hold Large Military Exercises
By Kim Tong-hyung
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Saturday’s test involved various types of drones built to fly different ranges to attack enemy targets on land and sea.
Beyond the Surveys: Unpacking South Korea’s Nuclear Ambitions Amid Political and Domestic Realities
By Daeyeon Lee
Support for nuclear weapons is less notable when the costs are factored in – and is politically infeasible regardless of public sentiment.
The Significance and Implications of North Korea’s Garbage Balloon Tactics
By Jihoon Yu
The act of sending waste-filled balloons is not just a symbolic gesture; it is a reminder of North Korea’s capacity for unconventional and asymmetric warfare.
Is North Korea Returning to a Balanced Diplomacy?
By ISOZAKI Atsuhito
For North Korea, Russia acts as a counterbalance to China in what appears to be an imitation of the diplomacy of Kim Jong Un’s grandfather.
South Korean Military Intel Official Arrested for Allegedly Leaking Secrets, Reportedly on Spies
By Hyung-jin Kim
South Korean media reported the employee gave a Chinese national thousands of confidential documents, including information about South Korean spies operating abroad.
Does Kim Jong Un Really ‘Not Care’ About the US Election?
By Taehee Lee
Whatever Pyongyang says officially, the U.S. presidential race between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris will have big implications for North Korea.
South Korea’s 2-Term Presidency Debate: A Double-Edged Sword for Democratic Reform
By Jinwan Park
The idea of a two-term presidency has found resonance across the political spectrum. What would it mean for South Korean democracy?
North Korea’s Market Dilemma: Balancing Control and Revenue Generation
By Lee Sang Yong
While markets remain regulated to varying degrees across regions, authorities appear focused on stimulating rather than shutting them down, likely as a means to raise funds.
The Collateral Victims of Kim Jong Un’s About-Face on Korean Unification
By Meredith Shaw
The rejection of unification marked a massive paradigm shift for the North Korean state and its sympathizers – including Japan’s pro-North Korean community.
Han Dong-hoon Elected Leader of South Korea’s Conservatives After Tumultuous Party Convention
By Kyle Pope and Simon Voget
As the new People Power Party leader, Han’s dynamic with President Yoon will shape the fortunes of both president and party.