About the author
More articles by 'Andrei Lankov'
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
As a second summit looms, fear of a bad deal prevails in Washington DC
Observers in the U.S. capital are increasingly concerned Trump will give away too much
Why more and more North Korean ships are washing up on Japanese shores
Growing competition and falling prices have driven DPRK fisherman to foreign shores
Following his surprise defection, what next for Jo Song Gil?
History suggests the missing diplomat may choose to keep a low profile
Why Kim Jong Un’s New Year’s speech opted for more of the same
The North Korean leader knows that stalling for time remains his best option
