James Fretwell | NK News
NK News Logo
May 17, 2025May 17, 2025

About the author

James Fretwell

James Fretwell

James Fretwell is a PhD student focusing on Korean and Chinese history at the University of Melbourne. He was an analyst at NK News, and he has often discussed the two Koreas in interviews on the BBC, ABC News Australia, Deutsche Welle and elsewhere.

More articles by 'James Fretwell'

God save the Kims: How North Korea’s ruling regime came to love royal families

God save the Kims: How North Korea’s ruling regime came to love royal families

North Korea has criticized hereditary succession but is the only communist country to have done it twice

God save the Kims: How North Korea’s ruling regime came to love royal families
James Fretwell
James Fretwell September 23, 2022
North Korea finally wants vaccines. The question is where it will get them.
NK PRO

North Korea finally wants vaccines. The question is where it will get them.

Inoculations are much needed but come too late for many who suffered through outbreak and under pandemic restrictions

North Korea finally wants vaccines. The question is where it will get them.
James Fretwell
James Fretwell September 12, 2022
Why the next 30 years of South Korea-China ties won’t be as rosy as the last
KOREA PRO

Why the next 30 years of South Korea-China ties won’t be as rosy as the last

Seoul will find it difficult to balance relations between U.S. and China due to intensifying great power competition

Why the next 30 years of South Korea-China ties won’t be as rosy as the last
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 24, 2022
Yoon Suk-yeol’s plan to denuclearize North Korea isn’t so ‘audacious’ after all
NK PRO

Yoon Suk-yeol’s plan to denuclearize North Korea isn’t so ‘audacious’ after all

Offers of aid will do little to persuade Kim Jong Un without security guarantees, something Seoul says it can’t provide

Yoon Suk-yeol’s plan to denuclearize North Korea isn’t so ‘audacious’ after all
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 17, 2022
Yoon urges South Korea and Japan to move on. But history keeps bubbling up.
KOREA PRO

Yoon urges South Korea and Japan to move on. But history keeps bubbling up.

Yoon stresses common North Korea threat in Liberation Day speech, but imminent forced labor ruling could derail efforts

Yoon urges South Korea and Japan to move on. But history keeps bubbling up.
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 15, 2022
100,000 North Korean soldiers won’t fight in Ukraine. But a few dozen might.

100,000 North Korean soldiers won’t fight in Ukraine. But a few dozen might.

The DPRK has deployed troops to foreign conflicts before, from the Vietnam War to the civil war in Syria

100,000 North Korean soldiers won’t fight in Ukraine. But a few dozen might.
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 12, 2022
North Korea’s proclamation of COVID ‘victory’ only portends more suffering ahead
NK PRO

North Korea’s proclamation of COVID ‘victory’ only portends more suffering ahead

Kim regime focused on crafting propaganda wins rather than embracing solutions like vaccines that would help it open up

North Korea’s proclamation of COVID ‘victory’ only portends more suffering ahead
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 11, 2022
Yoon’s botched handling of Pelosi visit sends muddled diplomatic messages
KOREA PRO

Yoon’s botched handling of Pelosi visit sends muddled diplomatic messages

South Korean president risks opening himself to charge of placating China even as he seeks closer ties with US

Yoon’s botched handling of Pelosi visit sends muddled diplomatic messages
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 9, 2022
Israeli envoy: Korea-Israel ties bright but Yoon visit would be ‘transformative’
KOREA PRO

Israeli envoy: Korea-Israel ties bright but Yoon visit would be ‘transformative’

In interview, Ambassador Akiva Tor says South Korea to ratify FTA ‘very soon’ and that he ‘often’ warns of Iran threats

Israeli envoy: Korea-Israel ties bright but Yoon visit would be ‘transformative’
James Fretwell
James Fretwell August 5, 2022
Mad about THAAD: South Korea-China dispute over US missile interceptor returns
KOREA PRO

Mad about THAAD: South Korea-China dispute over US missile interceptor returns

Seoul again finds itself caught between Beijing and Washington as it looks for defenses against North Korean threats

Mad about THAAD: South Korea-China dispute over US missile interceptor returns
James Fretwell
James Fretwell July 28, 2022
1 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 15