The United States and South Korea agreed to pursue the denuclearization of North Korea in a phased manner. In response, Pyongyang has rejected the phased denuclearization proposal,
Think North Korea''s Kim Jong Il is a threat? You should see who''s vying to succeed him. Joshua Kurlantzick on the Dear Leader''s deadly legacy
His major publications include Tourism in North Korea (2019, in Japanese), the third edition of Introduction to North Korean Studies (2024, in Japanese), and Understanding the Situation in North
North Korea''s Strategic Play in an Era of Great Power Confrontation After decades of diplomatic isolation, economic destitution and marginalisation in
Recently a tremendous amount of attention has been devoted to North Korea, the summit with the U.S. president, and how
In this article, we trace the strategy of political control employed in North Korea under Kim Jong Un. Using conceptual tools created in the literature on comparative authoritarianism, we
By simply being aware of the ways by which the North Korean regime gains and maintains power over its citizens, you are looking through the fog that
During Kim Jong-un''s first decade in power, North Korea''s foreign policy was marked by confrontation, isolation and nuclear development, as well
In a series of speeches since late December, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has signaled a historic change in inter-Korean policy, abandoning the goal of reunification and framing
The kind of nuclear command and control (NC2) system North Korea adopts will have potentially profound implications for the combined U.S. and Republic of Korea (ROK) deterrence posture and
How does a country with no open internet become the world''s most dangerous cybercriminal state? National security expert and former NSA officer
Overview North Korea continues to advance its nuclear weapons and missile programs despite UN Security Council sanctions and high-level diplomatic efforts. The country''s ballistic missile testing,
Deterrence of North Korean nuclear and missile threats may require that the ROK and United States organize themselves, threaten North Korea with punishment in response to its
1985 – 2024 Negotiations between the United States and North Korea have proceeded in fits and starts for decades. But they have failed to halt
Here, extrapolated from the report, is a sort of brief handguide to how North Korea has stayed so remarkably stable for so long, and might still for
Why North Korea''s Done Hedging In a strategic pivot, Pyongyang is teaming up with Russia and China to help dilute U.S. hegemony.
The Defense Intelligence Agency released today “North Korea Military Power,” an unclassified intelligence product that examines the core
More power to a dictator The Database Center for North Korean Human Rights has paused all but its most urgent programs and launched an appeal for donations. Executive Director Hannah Song has
Contact: Kelsey Davenport, Director for Nonproliferation Policy, (202) 463-8270 x102 For years, the United States and the international community have tried to negotiate an end to North
North Korea has acquired enhanced military capabilities through Russian cooperation, gained combat experience in Ukraine, and established enduring partnerships that will outlast current conflicts.
But, even though North Korea''s leaders have followed the “playbook” for dictators, the nation is unusual even within that ignominious club.
North Korea Scenarios: Definitions and Drivers This NIE considers three scenarios for how Pyongyang could perceive the value and purpose of a growing nuclear arsenal through 2030. North Korea most
About North Korea Briefing The Stimson Center''s 38 North is pleased to publish the third volume of North Korea Briefing, a quarterly report analyzing North Korea''s internal dynamics.
Primary energy use in North Korea was 224 TWh and 9 TWh per million people in 2009. The country''s primary sources of power are hydro and coal after Kim Jong Il implemented plans that saw
This article is from the fourth edition (January – March 2026) of 38 North''s quarterly product, North Korea Briefing, that monitors key internal
Historical Evolution: From Survival to Supremacy North Korea''s nuclear journey began in the 1950s–1960s with Soviet and Chinese assistance, initially framed
The central dilemma shaping Kim Jong-un''s foreign policy throughout his first decade in power revolves around ensuring North Korea''s prosperity and security
Explore North Korea''s nuclear ambitions, military strategies, and their significant impact on East Asian and global security dynamics.
The article is structured as follows. First we review the existing literature on North Korea, present the conceptual framework we use to develop our argument, and describe our methods and sources.
In North Korea, all authority flows from Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. He has reinstated the party as the central hub to consolidate his power and bring
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