NK Leadership

Conflicting Signals on the Refugee Issue, and a KCNA-Xinhua Pastiche

By | February 27, 2012

While the refugee issue metasizes in Seoul and curiously grows on the Chinese internet, life continues its rhythms in Pyongyang, and in the hallways of state media. — Editor Conflicting Signals on the Refugee Issue, and a KCNA-Xinhua Pastiche by Adam Cathcart – There were some very strong hints following Li Keqiang’s visit to both […]

Faceoff//Trilogized

By | February 26, 2012

 

Blockages and Breakthroughs: Cultural Diplomacy and North Korea

By | February 23, 2012

Yesterday, Corée_Actualités launched a short missive which functioned as a kind of bouleversement of the normal: a 90-member delegation of the DPRK’s Unhasu Orchestra (consisting of 70 players) will be performing at the Salle Pleyel in Paris this coming March 21.  The French Radio Symphony Orchestra (l’Orchestre de Radio France) will be playing alongside Unhasu, under the direction of […]

Opportunity for Engagement and Reform: An Interview with Dr. Park Young-jun

By | February 18, 2012

The speed with which facts, currencies, ideas and rumors flow through and weave around the Korean peninsula has clearly accellerated in the information age.  Students in Pyongyang trace (if vaguely) the spread of revolution in Syria; a grainy drone strike over remote Pakistan makes the paper in Sinuiju;  a village 25 miles from the Chinese border […]

Statues and Empty Bowls: Notes on North Korean Iconography and Prospects for European and Chinese Aid

By | February 16, 2012

Fireworks and Empty Bowls: Notes on North Korean Iconography and Prospects for European and Chinese Aid   by Adam Cathcart As expected, today’s 70th birthday commemorations for Kim Jong Il find the deceased leader at the burning revolutionary center of North Korean media.  And his son, having teased foreign observers (and, presumably, tickled the curiosity […]