Bitcoin to bombs: Illicit money and the preservation of Kim Jong-un

Written by Casey Babb

If he is going to be compelled to behave differently, or if regime change is the end goal, policymakers, practitioners, and cyber experts need to cut off North Korea’s digital “bank robbers”.

Is South Korea’s new Indo-Pacific strategy finally forthcoming?

Written by Wongi Choe

In contrast to the previous Moon Jae-in administration of the Republic of Korea (ROK), the new Yoon Suk-yeol government is highly likely to take on a new broader regional strategy with a comprehensive Indo-Pacific framework at its core.

Why China will not cooperate with the United States on North Korea

Written by Anny Boc

China’s public support in February for Russia’s position on opposing further NATO expansion reflects its own long harboured concern about US’ intent to establish an Asian version of NATO.

Evolution, not revolution, will define Yoon’s foreign policy

Written by Ramon Pacheco Pardo

As for Yoon’s approach toward the Indo-Pacific, we can expect Yoon to seek to boost security cooperation with the US — above all — Australia, Japan, Southeast Asia, and Europe to contain China’s behaviour in the region.

In Brief: Tereza Novotna — South Korea Associate at 9DASHLINE

This week we are delighted to announce the arrival of Tereza Novotna as our new South Korea Associate. In joining our expanding network of associates her arrival marks the next stage of our development in seeking to connect Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

What Kim Jong-un’s diplomacy tells us about Sino-NK relations

Written by Darcie Draudt

Looking forward to when the pandemic winds down, China will likely test the appetite in Pyongyang for bilateral and even multilateral meetings on denuclearisation and sanctions relief, especially at the working level.

An enduring crisis: Assessing the state of Japan’s North Korea policy

Written by Sebastian Maslow

With the US pushing its agenda of ‘integrated deterrence’ in Asia and North Korea testing new missiles, pressure on Japan to obtain capabilities to strike enemy bases will likely gain further momentum.

In Brief with Ji Seong-ho, National Assembly Member

The European Union can play several critical roles with respect to North Korea. The first is to enact a ‘North Korean Human Rights Act’. Such a law only exists in the Republic of Korea, the US, and Japan.

Indigenous deterrence capabilities and inter-Korean relations

Written by Elisabeth Suh

The upcoming presidential elections in March 2022 will set Seoul’s tone for the next five years. Which scenario is more likely to unfold in the medium-term, however, depends also on North Korea and the broader geopolitical setting.

Heating up: An arms race on the Korean Peninsula

Written by Joe Varner

North Korea, on the other hand, has in the last month made clear it is going nowhere. It is bound and determined to hold Washington’s feet to the fire, holding its bases in the region, US cities and their populations hostage now and for the foreseeable future.

In Brief with Michael Reiterer, former EU Ambassador to the Republic of Korea

In Brief with Michael Reiterer

EU policy on North Korea must balance the commitment to strictly uphold the international rules-based system with the need to adopt flexible diplomacy that will convince Kim Jong-un to move in a positive direction.

Denuclearisation means regime change in North Korea

Written by Benedikt Christoph Staar

North Korea’s neighbours are not too keen on denuclearisation either. Admittedly, neither China nor Russia benefits from a nuclear-armed North Korea because it causes regional insecurity at best and unforeseeable political and economic damage at worst.

'Deterrence and stern diplomacy': where do we go from here?

Written by Edward Howell

Growing tensions in Sino-US relations vis-à-vis Taiwan and the treatment of Uyghur minorities in Xinjiang only underscore the Biden administration’s policy of maintaining stability over the possible unintended consequences of any attempt to reach out to Kim Jong-un.

Malaysia and North Korea: Friends to foes

Written by Uday Bakhshi

It has also heavily focused on its cyber capabilities, and there are allegations it is propping up state-sanctioned financial crime syndicates to conduct heists. North Korea is not as isolated as the mainstream news narrative leads one to believe, and it will focus on these relations amid broader diplomatic considerations.

The US must change its rhetoric to effectively engage North Korea

Written by Gabriela Bernal

No matter how badly Washington wants complete, verifiable, irreversible denuclearisation (CVID), the likelihood of Pyongyang agreeing to this while receiving no concessions in return is close to zero. Biden and his advisors must face reality and stop approaching the North Koreans with the same rhetoric and tactics that have failed time and again.

North Korea expected to strengthen its nuclear deterrent

Written by Gabriela Bernal

Given that Kim Jong Un has kept quiet and away from the spotlight for most of 2020, the statements made during the Congress call for considerable analysis by the incoming US administration. Biden and his team must formulate a clear strategy to deal with North Korea from the very beginning, lest they wait too long and miss the opportunity for diplomacy altogether.

East Asia9DLJanuary 15, 2021Kim Jong-un, North Korea, DPRK, Nuclear, SLBM, Submarines, KCNA, Pyongyang, Washington, ICBM, Hypersonic

North Korea: A ceaseless rise and the battle for succession

Written by Joe Varner

Differences between the current White House and an incoming Biden administration could be thrown into sharp relief in response to an ICBM test-fire by the North, as one is charged (even in its dying days) with protecting the US, while the other is chomping at the bit to set a new course in two months time.

East Asia9DLNovember 11, 2020Kim Jong-un, China, United States, Trump, Biden, Joe Biden, Pyongyang, Russia