[Commentary]
“Unification Doctrine” in Focus:
Assessing ROK’s New DPRK Policy |
Ihn-hwi Park, a professor at Ewha Womans University, analyzes President Yoon Suk Yeol’s “August 15 Unification Doctrine,” which outlines South Korea’s updated approach to unification. Although not entirely new, the Doctrine reorganizes core principles into three strategies: strengthening South Korea’s values and capacity, fostering a desire for unification in North Koreans, and securing international support. While North Korea has remained silent, debates in South Korea question whether this policy marks a shift from previous approaches. The author emphasizes that informing North Koreans about South Korea and global realities is crucial for unification, though critics warn against imposing a one-sided agenda against North Korea under the guise of disregarding Pyongyang’s goodwill.
*Also available for download in Korean. |
[Commentary] North Korea as Catalyst: Expanding U.S.-ROK-Japan Cooperation |
Professor Leif-Eric Easley and Sunwoo Kim from Ewha Womans University examine how North Korea's norm-violating actions -- including missile tests, cyberattacks, and sanctions evasion -- have catalyzed U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateralism. Trilateral cooperation is expanding on cyber and intelligence, economic security, and human rights. These policies have broader implications for addressing China's assertiveness and upholding a rules-based international order. Despite potential domestic political hurdles and leadership changes, institutionalized cooperation from the Camp David Summit is expected to endure, fostering stability and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region. |
[Commentary] North Korea’s Economy in the First Half of 2024 |
Hae Jung Lee, a research fellow at the Hyundai Research Institute, notes that North Korea's economic development has been lagging throughout the first half of 2024, despite its efforts toward regional and local development. While she does not foresee substantial improvements in the country's economic situation for the remainder of the year, Lee suggests that North Korea will likely intensify its exchanges with China and Russia as part of its strategy to bolster self-reliance and evade international sanctions. However, Lee warns that bypassing sanctions alone will not lead to economic recovery and urges North Korea to pursue strategic decisions for sanctions relief and sustainable growth.
*Also available for download in Korean. |
[Commentary] Coping in the Age of Climate Crisis: North Korea’s Resilience and Disaster Response Strategies |
Yongwoo Na, Director of the North Korea Research Division at KINU, underscores the escalating severity of natural disasters that North Korea experiences annually and notes that Pyongyang’s disaster response capabilities remain critically inadequate. Na highlights that the growing frequency of disasters, driven by the climate crisis, poses a significant threat to regime stability, making this a critical challenge for Kim Jong Un in the coming years. Pointing out that DPRK has shown a willingness to engage in international cooperation to improve its disaster management capabilities, the author suggests that disaster cooperation could provide a pragmatic starting point for reestablishing inter-Korean dialogues.
*Also available for download in Korean. |
|
