About the author
More articles by 'Andrei Lankov'
Denuclearization should not be a prerequisite for engagement with North Korea
The incoming government in Seoul may see clearly how the DPRK operates, but stated policies are useless – even dangerous
Why North Korea’s markets will survive state crackdowns on private commerce
Marketplaces have persisted in DPRK despite extreme suspicion from the state, which tolerates them as a necessary evil
How North Korea tried and failed to boost consumption of the other white meat
The regime heralded a future of ‘silk clothes’ and ‘meat soup’ through mass pig farms, a vision that never came to pass
The war in Ukraine changes everything — including the future of North Korea
Russia's invasion is the latest event to increase chance Kim Jong Un regime survives and becomes more aggressive
Why North Korea introduced its own version of alternative civilian service
The DPRK’s shock detachments realize a dream of early communist leaders and provide a path to social advancement
Despite mixed legacy, Moon Jae-in played key role to avert war with North Korea
Failures of the last few years shouldn’t overshadow the outgoing president’s deft diplomacy in the days of fire and fury
How a North Korean businessman’s high-rise dreams came crashing down
A defector’s memoir illuminates how private entrepreneurs, relying on bribery, drove a construction boom in Pyongyang
What’s in it for the working man? Why North Koreans show up for low-wage jobs
State-assigned jobs rarely pay a livable salary, but there are other benefits for reporting to one’s workplace
A North Korean assassination gone wrong and its continuing ripple effects
The attempt to take out former ROK leader Park Chung-hee killed his wife instead and drove his daughter into politics
Why North Korea won’t act on its threat to launch long-range missiles — yet
Pyongyang hopes to pressure the US to make concessions, but without angering its ally China
