Peter Ward | NK News
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January 05, 2025

About the author

Peter Ward

Peter Ward

Peter Ward is a research fellow at the Sejong Institute. His work focuses on North Korean politics, the economy and society. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Vienna.

More articles by 'Peter Ward'

What Kim Jong Un’s candid admission of failure says about his economic approach
NK PRO

What Kim Jong Un’s candid admission of failure says about his economic approach

North Korean leader has embraced self-reflection as a strategy for winning trust, while doubling down on central control

What Kim Jong Un’s candid admission of failure says about his economic approach
Peter Ward
Peter Ward January 2, 2025
Why a reported rise in North Korean wages won’t do much to improve welfare
NK PRO

Why a reported rise in North Korean wages won’t do much to improve welfare

Analysis suggests alleged plan to pay workers more fails to address underlying problems in convoluted wage system

Why a reported rise in North Korean wages won’t do much to improve welfare
Peter Ward
Peter Ward November 28, 2024
What to make of the stunning collapse in value of North Korean won
NK PRO

What to make of the stunning collapse in value of North Korean won

Dramatic currency movements in DPRK raise concerns about financial crisis, likely due to state clampdown on use of forex

What to make of the stunning collapse in value of North Korean won
Peter Ward
Peter Ward October 30, 2024
With 20×10 policy, Kim Jong Un seizes control of local development from regions
NK PRO

With 20×10 policy, Kim Jong Un seizes control of local development from regions

North Korea has abandoned bottom-up approach, but new top-down strategy is likely dependent on arms sales to Russia

With 20×10 policy, Kim Jong Un seizes control of local development from regions
Peter Ward
Peter Ward September 18, 2024
Against the grain: How North Korean weapons sales could squash food markets
NK PRO

Against the grain: How North Korean weapons sales could squash food markets

DPRK appears to be importing more grain and paying farmers more, undercutting markets with funds from sales to Russia

Against the grain: How North Korean weapons sales could squash food markets
Peter Ward
Peter Ward August 9, 2024
How Kim Jong Un’s first economic strategy illuminates his goals for Russia ties
NK PRO

How Kim Jong Un’s first economic strategy illuminates his goals for Russia ties

Five-year plan for 2016-2020 called for massive increase in bilateral trade and offers insights into future focus areas

How Kim Jong Un’s first economic strategy illuminates his goals for Russia ties
Peter Ward
Peter Ward July 30, 2024
What North Korea’s inflated grain prices reveal about persistent food insecurity
NK PRO

What North Korea’s inflated grain prices reveal about persistent food insecurity

Surging food prices have increased economic pressures on households, even as incomes have dropped since before pandemic

What North Korea’s inflated grain prices reveal about persistent food insecurity
Peter Ward
Peter Ward July 23, 2024
How North Korea could steal from China’s playbook to assert its maritime claims
NK PRO

How North Korea could steal from China’s playbook to assert its maritime claims

Gray zone tactics ranging from air intrusions to cyberattacks enable DPRK to menace near border without firing a shot

How North Korea could steal from China’s playbook to assert its maritime claims
Peter Ward
Peter Ward July 9, 2024
Contested waters: Why the two Koreas still can’t agree on their maritime border
NK PRO

Contested waters: Why the two Koreas still can’t agree on their maritime border

North Korea has disputed Northern Limit Line since 70s, and its ambiguous legal status could increase conflict risks

Contested waters: Why the two Koreas still can’t agree on their maritime border
Peter Ward
Peter Ward June 28, 2024
Why North Korea could embrace talks with US to stop the South from going nuclear
NK PRO

Why North Korea could embrace talks with US to stop the South from going nuclear

Pyongyang doesn’t want another nuke power across the border, and may even prefer a continued US presence on peninsula

Why North Korea could embrace talks with US to stop the South from going nuclear
Peter Ward
Peter Ward June 7, 2024
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