[Commentary]
“Abnormal” North Korea-China Relations:
A Historical Perspective on
North Korea-China-Russia Geopolitical Dynamics |
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Jaewoo Jun, Associate Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses, urges caution against interpreting recent fissures in North Korea-China relations as evidence of a permanent alignment between North Korea and Russia, positing instead that these developments reflect North Korea’s long-standing tendency to bandwagon between stronger powers. Dr. Jun examines historical interactions among North Korea, Russia, and China during the Cold War to substantiate his argument. Ultimately, the author contends that South Korea should refrain from viewing the current distance between Pyongyang and Beijing as either a definitive rupture or a fleeting opportunity, and instead pursue a balanced diplomatic strategy through measured collaboration with both China and Russia.
* Also available for download in Korean. |
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[Commentary] “The Art of the Deal” Amid Structural Crisis: Trumpian Negotiation and the Prospect of North Korean Denuclearization Talks |
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Chaesung Chun, Chair of the EAI National Security Research Center and Professor at Seoul National University, examines the evolution of U.S. diplomacy under the Trump administration, highlighting a marked shift from traditional stabilizing roles toward transactional, short-term brokerage. Professor Chun critiques the administration’s tendency to prioritize immediate political returns over structural peace, suggesting that a future U.S.-North Korea summit under Trump would likely replicate these patterns. The author ultimately urges a more coherent, multidimensional deterrence strategy on Seoul’s part to maintain strategic balance amid shifting geopolitical currents.
* Also available for download in Korean. |
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[Commentary] North Korean Citizens’ Parody Songs as Cultural Subversion |
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Seunghee Ha, Research Professor at Dongguk University, argues that the widespread rewriting of song lyrics in North Korea reflects a gradual erosion of the regime’s symbolic authority. Through a close analysis of altered songs addressing themes such as survival, romance, military service, and corruption, Professor Ha illustrates how citizens subvert the emotional narratives embedded in state propaganda. The author concludes that this practice signals the emergence of unofficial cultural expression and underscores the widening gap between ideological messaging and the lived realities of North Korean society.
* Also available for download in Korean. |
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