North Korea

The ups and downs of the Vietnam–North Korea relationship
The ups and downs of the Vietnam–North Korea relationship
When the 2019 Hanoi summit ended in failure, then–US President Donald Trump generously offered his counterpart, North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un, a ride home on Air Force One…
Why North Korea wants an arms control deal with the United States
Why North Korea wants an arms control deal with the United States
North Korea held its 8th Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party last week to set the country’s political and economic trajectory for the coming years after an uncertain 2020. One…
A missile spotter’s guide to North Korea (and beyond)
A missile spotter’s guide to North Korea (and beyond)
On 10 October, North Korea added to the woes of 2020 with an enormous military parade that revealed, among other weapons, what appeared to be an enormous new road-mobile…
When China lashed out
When China lashed out
On the wintry night of 27 November 1950, Chinese troops suddenly descended upon the US 1st Marine Division and the 31st Regimental Combat Team around the frozen Chosin Reservoir,…
North Korea’s very odd year
North Korea’s very odd year
On 1 January 2020, the Workers’ Party of Korea published a report on its goals for the year, emphasising simultaneous economic construction and nuclear development. But with the…
In search of a middle-power rethink on North Korea policy
In search of a middle-power rethink on North Korea policy
Given its many foreign policy priorities, there will be around six months before the Biden administration can turn to North Korea. Pyongyang will not wait patiently. If…
Why Kim Jong-un will soon miss Donald Trump
Why Kim Jong-un will soon miss Donald Trump
If US President Donald Trump loses the 3 November election, North Korea’s Kim Jong-un will be first in line to mourn Trump’s departure from the White House. Despite a rocky start …
North Korea’s new missile
North Korea’s new missile
To restore your faith in the power of social media, I suggest logging on to Twitter just after a North Korean weapons parade.  Maybe “faith” is too strong a word here. In…
A Biden presidency and the US–South Korea alliance
A Biden presidency and the US–South Korea alliance
US presidential candidate Joe Biden, leading in most polls more than two months before the November election, is cautiously expected to win office. On foreign policy, his plan has…
US–South Korea: Working group blues
US–South Korea: Working group blues
South Korea’s President Moon Jae-in’s appointment of new national security advisers has attracted attention, given their pro-détente stance in spite of North Korea’s latest…