Author Archive
The Short Arm of the Law: Sanctions and North Korean Laborers in Russia
Anthony Rinna examines the stark reality that it is not clear who is available to replace exports of North Korean labor in Russia, making it hard to imagine the Russian government weaning itself off them.
Lumps of Coal: How China’s Demand for Russia’s Natural Resources Affects North Korea Sanctions Enforcement
Anthony Rinna investigates the Russian role in the DPRK sanctions system, focusing on the country’s potential to export high-quality coal to China as a replacement for the DPRK.
The Russian Sanctions Policy: Reflecting the Long View
It makes little sense for Russia to divest itself of economic ties to the northern half of Korea at the request of the United States. What Putin and his government fear is that new sanctions will cut Russia off from having a presence in a reunified Korea. Anthony Rinna looks at Russia’s long game.
Targeting North Korea, Scratching Russia: HR 1644
Russia’s economic interactions with North Korea are attracting the attention of the United States. In May, a bill emerged from the US House of Representatives that targets labor exports and the activities of North Korean vessels using third-country (including Russian) ports. Russia is not pleased. Anthony Rinna investigates.
THAAD and the Great Power Context III: The Quiet Exception in Russian Geopolitics
Continuing his analysis of Russia’s position on THAAD from a regional security perspective, Anthony Rinna seeks to extrapolate some of the economic and geopolitical issues lying behind the THAAD factor in Russia-South Korea bilateral relations.
THAAD and the Great Power Context II: Missile Defense and China-Russia Defense Cooperation
In the second part of his series on Great Power politics in Northeast Asia, Anthony Rinna looks at the question of whether successful China-Russia defense relations in the region are possible beyond mere rhetoric.
THAAD and the Great Power Context: Russia’s Regional Interests in Korea
Taking his cue from Henry Kissinger, Anthony Rinna analyzes the THAAD question from the Russian perspective, viewing the Putin government’s opposition to THAAD deployment in the context of overlapping global and regional aspirations.
Yongusil 89: One River, Three States in Asian Perspective Special Issue
This autumn saw the journal Asian Perspective bring together five authors for a transnational investigation of issues confronting the DPRK-PRC-Russia border region. The journal special issue was guided by guest editor Park Hyun-gwi of Cambridge University. Anthony Rinna takes a look inside.
From One Leader to Another, by Way of a Third: Putin’s Gift to Park Geun-hye
Vladimir Putin recently gave a piece of calligraphy by former President Park Chung-hee to Park’s daughter, incumbent ROK President Park Geun-hye. Returning with a new Jangmadang, Anthony Rinna looks at the protagonist and his gift through the lens of the Russian media.
Pyongyang on the Neva: A North Korean Defection in Russia
Global reports imply a spate of intriguing North Korean defections in recent weeks and months. In one instance, a trade representative fled (or so it is said) for Belarus. Taking the Russian media as his evidence, Anthony Rinna investigates.
Same Problem, Different Angles: Japan and South Korea’s Divergent Approaches to Cooperation with Russia
Russia’s comparatively hardline approach to North Korea in 2016 serves to highlight the generally pragmatic nature of interstate relations in Northeast Asia, argues Tony Rinna, Sino-NK’s Russia and Eurasia Analyst.
