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January 23, 2025

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andrei Lankov

Andrei Lankov

Andrei Lankov is a Director at NK News and writes exclusively for the site as one of the world's leading authorities on North Korea. A graduate of Leningrad State University, he attended Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University from 1984-5 - an experience you can read about here. In addition to his writing, he is also a Professor at Kookmin University.

Opinion

An honest new year statement from North Korea: denuclearization isn’t happening

Pyongyang wants to negotiate arms control and non-proliferation, but not the full surrender of their nuclear weapons

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovJanuary 1, 2020
Features

Best of frenemies: Soviet perceptions of North Korea in the 1970s

Pyongyang showed little gratitude for Soviet assistance, yet Moscow couldn't afford to abandon the relationship

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovDecember 31, 2019
Opinion

The left is right: why South Korea should continue its policy of engagement

Progressives may be naïve about North Korea, but conservative policies will likely only lead to increasing tensions

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovDecember 10, 2019
Opinion

Brace yourselves: why North Korea is ready to turn up the tensions in 2020

With little progress in diplomacy, expect Pyongyang to return to a familiar playbook

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovDecember 4, 2019
Opinion

Why, when North Korea misbehaves, the South can’t help but turn the other cheek

The current administration is wedded to a good-will policy — and Pyongyang is happy to exploit it

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovNovember 25, 2019
Evergreen

Bow to the leader: a history of North Korea’s iconic and ubiquitous Kim statues

Statues began being erected in the late 1960s, and continue to be sites of mandatory pilgrimage to this day

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovNovember 11, 2019
Opinion

Why it’s time to drop unrealistic hopes for North Korean denuclearization

The unshakable commitment to an unachievable goal is stymying any chance of actually curbing the threat from Pyongyang

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovNovember 4, 2019
Features

How North Korea’s devastating famine subverted the rigid “songbun” system

Many were able to use their foreign connections to start illegal, but profitable, cross-border businesses

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovOctober 27, 2019
Opinion

Why, in talks with the U.S., North Korea can now afford to play hardball

With China back onside and Trump facing a domestic crisis, Pyongyang is in no great rush

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovOctober 8, 2019
Opinion

Why, with John Bolton gone, U.S. diplomacy can move more freely — and recklessly

The hawkish advisor had long limited President Trump's more adventurous approach to North Korea

Andrei LankovAndrei LankovSeptember 25, 2019
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