About the author
More articles by 'Andrei Lankov'
Frenemies reunited: a brief history of Russian-North Korean summitry
With Kim Jong Un set to meet Putin, it's worth revisiting the two countries' past meetings
How a leadership reshuffle could spell trouble for future North Korean reforms
With sanctions beginning to take their toll, Kim Jong Un may be changing course
How a series of strategic mistakes have forced Kim Jong Un into a corner
After years alienating China, North Korea might soon have no choice but to cave in to the U.S.
Why an armed North Korean resistance may do more harm than good
One person's freedom fighter is another person's terrorist, after all
Take to the skies: North Korea’s role in the mysterious hijacking of KAL YS-11
Pyongyang used the incident to its advantage, though whether it played a direct role remains unclear
What to make of a mysterious break-in at the North Korean embassy in Madrid
While details are thin, it appears likely that intelligence services were involved
Why neither North Korea nor the U.S. want a return to confrontation
The failed Hanoi summit raises the stakes, but no-one can afford to ramp up tensions
Why the failed Hanoi summit is no cause for despair
The no-deal outcome is bad news, but a return to "fire and fury" remains unlikely -- for now
As Kim and Trump meet in Hanoi, can the DPRK and Vietnam restore historic ties?
Once close friends, history and attitudes towards reform have seen the two drift apart
Why, despite improving inter-Korean ties, unification remains as tricky as ever
Elites on both sides know that a confederation-style agreement would be political suicide
