DPRK Foreign Relations

Revolution on the Margins? Surveying the Trade Environment in Rason

By | May 25, 2012

In a strongly-documented piece, Sabine van Ameijden assesses the risks inherent in any foreign investment in Rason, the special economic zone in the extreme northeastern corner of the DPRK.

Porous Net: 28 Questions on the “Chinese Fisherman Held Hostage by North Korea” Narrative

By | May 21, 2012

Porous Net: 28 Questions on the “Chinese Fisherman Held Hostage by North Korea” Narrative by Adam Cathcart It remains a bit early to draw sweeping conclusions about what this all means, the data points are adding up to a not-so-pretty picture and the fallout to China’s relationship with North Korea seems likely to be rather […]

Delegations Galore: Signs of a Continuing Rift in Sino-NK Relations

By | May 20, 2012

Delegations Galore: Signs of a Continuing Rift in Sino-NK Relations by Brian Gleason Although China and North Korea have maintained strong bilateral ties for decades, North Korea’s relentless pursuit of nuclear weapons, advanced missile systems and “satellite launches” has continued to take its toll on the relationship. In the aftermath of North Korea’s failed rocket […]

The DPRK Endures International Heat and a Cold November: Human Rights Issues in Sino-NK Dossier #3

By | May 17, 2012

In March 2012, Chinese media appeared to conclusively break the dam when it comes to open acknowledgement of the problem of North Korean refugees in China. Brian Gleason previews and contextualizes tensions which emerged on the refugee issue last fall.

China’s “Soft Power” Goes Global: Li Keqiang, S.B. Cohen, and North Korea

By | May 15, 2012

China’s “Soft Power” Goes Global: Li Keqiang, S.B. Cohen, and North Korea by Adam Cathcart Much attention has been paid, and rightly so, to the “Korea wave” (韩流) and its impacts on North Korean culture. But what about China’s efforts at “soft power” expansion? How, if at all, are these perceived in the DPRK? And […]