Columns
Columns on the latest North Korea issues from analysts, academics and renowned experts. Views expressed by our columnists are exclusively the authors’ own.
The cult of Kim: North Korea’s obsession with portraits of its leaders
Complex rules govern the display of images of the Kim family, which are treated like holy icons in a state religion
North Korea takes step closer to dream of conquering South with solid-fuel ICBM
DPRK seeks to keep US from intervening in conflict, a strategy pushing ROK toward developing its own nuclear deterrent
Why even hawkish Yoon administration won’t ignore a North Korean peace offensive
Pyongyang can manipulate pro-engagement, anti-Japan factions with a simple olive branch to Seoul — even if it’s all talk
How North Korea’s education fever has driven a boom in private tutoring
Academic achievement is increasingly important in DPRK for success, leading parents to spend heavily on illegal lessons
How illegal North Korean farms could fend off the next famine
Private hillside fields known as ‘sotoji’ have long been a major source of sustenance but undercut reforestation efforts
North Korean threats of war are nothing new. But not all of it is empty bluster.
Kim Yo Jong’s warning about a US ‘declaration of war’ is common in DPRK bombast and shouldn’t be taken at face value
How elite North Korean women have shattered the glass ceiling under Kim Jong Un
Daughter’s frequent appearances and women in key posts showcase shifting attitudes about roles women can play
In the North Korean economy, the almighty US dollar still reigns supreme
Repeated currency reforms have eroded trust in the DPRK won, making foreign money essential for many transactions
Why North Korea mistrusts but depends on its foreign-educated elite
Pyongyang regards most who study abroad as Manchurian candidates that are fundamentally disloyal to the Kims
How the ROK’s education obsession puts North Korean defectors at a disadvantage
DPRK schooling standards lag far behind South Korea, and money can be a major obstacle to academic success
