From "Our Country" to "My Country"

Seunghee Ha, Professor at Dongguk University, has analyzed that the lyrics of recent North Korean songs have shifted from 'our country' to 'my country'. She interprets this as a result of a change in strategy by the North Korean authorities, who now appeal to individuals' emotions rather than to their sense of loyalty through collective slogans. However, Professor Ha suggests that this strategy indirectly reinforces the political system and cult of personality by encouraging personal love for the country.

Commentary
  • Seunghee HA
  • December 24, 2025
Crisis Management and Peace Creation through the ROK-U.S. Alliance

Kyung-young Chung, Professor at Hanyang University, assesses that while the ROK–U.S. alliance has contributed to deterring war, it has revealed limitations in deterring North Korea’s repeated local provocations. To overcome these shortcomings, he proposes unifying crisis-management authority through the transition of Wartime Operational Control, maintaining high-intensity ROK–U.S. combined exercises, and pursuing a phased roadmap toward a peace regime. Ultimately, Professor Chung argues that the role of the ROK–U.S. alliance should be redefined beyond simple war deterrence on the Korea...

Commentary
  • Kyung-young CHUNG
  • December 19, 2025
The Greatest Achievements of North Korea's 8th Party Congress and Prospects for the 9th Party Congress

Ho Ryung Lee, Senior Research Fellow at KIDA, analyzes the achievements of the 8th Congress of the North Korea’s Workers' Party and forecasts the 9th Congress. The author identifies the greatest achievements of the 8th Congress as national defense (enhancement of nuclear and missile capabilities) and diplomacy (strengthening the North Korea-China-Russia solidarity). Dr. Lee assesses that the upcoming 9th Congress will likely emphasize a ‘victory and accomplishments’ narrative, focusing on strengthening integrated nuclear and conventional forces and preparing for war based on new technolo...

Commentary
  • Ho Ryung LEE
  • December 05, 2025
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PUBLICATIONS

COMMENTARY
North Korea's 'Strategic Deterrence' and South Korea and the US's Self-Deterrence

Hyeong Jung Park (Independent Researcher on North Korea) observes North Korea's strategic concepts and changes in South Korea-U.S. responses. The author diagnoses that as a result of South Korea and the United States internalizing North Korea's growing capabilities and threats, their North Korea str...

  • Hyeong Jung PARK
  • November 25, 2025
COMMENTARY
Gyeongju APEC, South Korea's Nuclear-Powered Submarines, and North Korea's Uneasy Watchfulness

Ihn-Hwi PARK, Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies at Ewha Womans University, assesses that the South Korea-U.S., South Korea-China, and U.S.-China summit meetings held during the 2025 Gyeongju APEC summit presented significant diplomatic agendas for the Korean Peninsula. The author ...

  • Ihn-Hwi PARK
  • November 12, 2025
COMMENTARY
What Will Bring Kim Jong Un to the Negotiation Table with Trump?

Professor Jihwan Hwang at the University of Seoul analyzes the history of U.S.-North Korea summits to clarify the conditions under which Kim Jong Un will be motivated to engage in negotiations with Trump. The author argues that Kim Jong-un requires (1) confidence that substantive agreements can be r...

  • Jihwan HWANG
  • November 03, 2025
VIDEO COMMENTARY
The Meeting that Fell Through: Hidden Meanings behind the Messages Exchanged between North Korea and the U.S.

Won Gon Park, Director of EAI's North Korea Research Center (Professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University), analyzes the background and implications of the meeting that didn’t materialize between President Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un during the APEC summit. Director Park points o...

  • Won Gon PARK
  • November 20, 2025
VIDEO COMMENTARY
Nighttime Military Parade: North Korean Regime's Language of Loyalty and Control

Won Gon Park analyzes the significance of the October 10 military parade marking the 80th anniversary of the founding of the North Korean Workers' Party. He points out that, through this parade, North Korea sought to demonstrate that the Workers' Party and its supreme leader firmly hold power in Nor...

  • Won Gon PARK
  • November 05, 2025

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