Author Archive

The Russian Sanctions Policy: Reflecting the Long View

By | July 10, 2017

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

By | June 05, 2017

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

By | April 18, 2017

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

By | February 13, 2017

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

By | January 01, 2017

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

By | December 19, 2016

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

By | September 27, 2016

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

By | September 12, 2016

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.