Blog
The Koreas
Amid Omicron Worries, North Korea Orders Strengthened Quarantine on China Border
By Lee Chae Un and Seulkee Jang
North Korea is stepping up health surveillance as well as tightening already severe restrictions on cross-border trade.
Biden’s Beijing Winter Olympics Boycott Is a Blow to South Korea’s Peace Plan
By Mitch Shin
President Moon Jae-in had hoped to recreate the magic of PyeongChang 2018, but the U.S. boycott of Beijing 2022 put an end to that dream.
North Korea Plans to Dig Deep Into Renewable Energy Alternatives
By Jason Bartlett
The success of North Korean renewable energy projects will depend on the willingness of key allies, such as China, to facilitate.
The Long Shadow of the Asian Financial Crisis in South Korea
By Yong Kwon
Seoul’s approach to pandemic relief is colored by the formative experience of the 1997-98 crisis.
Kim Jong Un and the ‘Supreme Leader System’
By ISOZAKI Atsuhito
After 30 years, the model is still alive and well.
Why South Korea Fell Behind Japan in Southeast Asia
By Adam Gadd
Ironically, South Korea and ASEAN's shared desire to avoid confronting China may be limiting Seoul's attractiveness as a strategic partner for the region.
Why Has North Korea Struggled to Normalize Trade With China?
By Troy Stangarone
Since North Korea slammed its borders shut in the initial stage of the pandemic, it has made several motions toward resuming normal trade. None has panned out.
Ex-South Korean Strongman Chun Doo-hwan Dies at Age 90
By Hyung-jin Kim
Chun's rule, from 1979 to 1988, was marked both by severe political repression as well as rapid social and economic changes. He is most famous for ordering the Gwangju massacre, for which he never apologized.
Moon’s Inter-Korea Peace Process Deadlocked in China-US Tensions
By Mitch Shin
U.S. President Joe Biden has opened the possibility of a diplomatic boycott for the Beijing Winter Olympics, potentially killing the final hope the Moon administration had to see productive results.
How to Deliver Relief to North Koreans Without Lifting Sanctions
By Aaron Arnold
To address the grim humanitarian situation in North Korea, countries should get smart about implementing sanctions, not lift them.
What Will South Korea’s Presidential Election Mean for Japan Ties?
By Mitch Shin
Along with their different policies on North Korea, the two candidates also have different perspectives on Japan.
Why Did the 2015 Japan-Korea ‘Comfort Women’ Agreement Fall Apart?
By Yuji Hosaka
The agreement was flawed from the beginning, and continued denialism from the Japanese government undermined its spirit.