North Korea

Japan
commentary
What Abe Leaves Behind
Jeffrey W. Hornung
Sep 11, 2020
Defense One
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's unexpected resignation leaves several of his policy priorities unfinished, including revising Japan's constitution and finalizing a peace treaty with Russia. But the security issues facing Japan and the region remain unchanged, and Abe's successor may be forced to confront several of them on his very first day.
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North Korea
commentary
In North Korea, The U.S. Could Take the Lead
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett, Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Aug 17, 2020
The National Interest
North Korea is hurting: its economy is stagnant and it is having trouble feeding even its elites because of the UN/U.S. sanctions designed to pressure North Korean toward denuclearization. A combined carrot and stick approach may help overcome some of North Korea's reluctance to negotiate the future of its nuclear weapons program.
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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
Aug 7, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on preparing for a COVID-19 election, how the pandemic is affecting artists, North Korea's deadly artillery, and more.
Read More »
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
Reopenining Schools, Affordable Housing, Unemployment: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 24, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the debate about reopening schools, how a decline in commercial real estate demand could help address the housing crisis, challenges facing the U.S. unemployment system, and more.
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South Korea
commentary
Moon's North Korea Vision Up in Smoke? Not So Fast…
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Jul 20, 2020
Lowy Institute's Interpreter
Even after North Korea's demolition of the inter-Korean liaison office, it appears that South Korean President Moon Jae-in will continue to prioritize improving inter-Korean relations. What are the implications of this strategy?
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North Korea
commentary
Will the Real Kim Yo Jong Stand Up?
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
Jul 6, 2020
The Hill
It's difficult to get reliable information about North Korea's leadership. This is especially true of Kim Jong Un's younger sister, Kim Yo Jong. Nonetheless, Washington should strive to learn as much as possible about someone who could become the leader of a nuclear-armed North Korea.
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North Korea
commentary
Is North Korea Prepared to End the Korean War?
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett, Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Jun 29, 2020
The National Interest
The end of the Korean War and peace on the peninsula are no more likely to occur as the result of a peace agreement than has North Korean denuclearization occurred as the result of multiple denuclearization agreements. Ultimately, North Korean objectives matter, and real peace does not appear to be part of those objectives.
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North Korea
commentary
For the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, It’s the North Korean Regime, Not Kim Jong Un Per Se, That Is the Threat
Scott W. Harold @ScottWHarold, Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Jun 8, 2020
RealClearDefense
Would Kim Jong Un's death improve U.S., South Korean, and Japanese security? Maybe not. North Korea's advancing nuclear and other military capabilities are driving an expanded set of problems, and while Kim's sudden death might constitute a destabilizing factor for the regime, the available evidence suggests the regime itself is the problem.
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North Korea
commentary
North Korea Post–Kim Jong Un Reappearance: Expect Business as Usual in the Hermit Kingdom
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
May 19, 2020
The National Interest
Kim Jong Un's return, while it leaves much to be desired in the way of explanation, should send one message to the international audience: North Korea's fate rests still in the hands of Kim Jong Un. And judging by appearances in recent days, Kim does not appear to intend to change the course of his strategy to reduce tensions with the United States.
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North Korea
commentary
North Korean Provocations, Not Denuclearization
Bruce W. Bennett @bwbennett
May 8, 2020
The National Interest
Kim Jong-un's reappearance raises questions about the course of U.S.–North Korea relationships in the coming year. What should we expect? What can we learn from the past?
Read More »
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
A Proposed COVID-19 Cure, Economic Decline, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
May 1, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on the unintended consequences of a proposed COVID-19 treatment, another wave of economic destruction, North Korea after Kim Jong Un, and more.
Read More »
North Korea
commentary
North Korea After Kim Jong Un: 'How' Matters More Than 'Who'
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Apr 28, 2020
Nikkei Asian Review
With rumors swirling that Kim Jong Un has suffered a health crisis, some are already asking who might succeed him as leader of North Korea. But who is not the most important question. What will matter more is what the new regime does to establish its legitimacy and how the United States and its allies respond.
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North Korea
commentary
Why We Really Don't Know What Happens If Kim Jong Un Dies
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Apr 27, 2020
The National Interest
The potential changes in the North Korean regime pose more questions than they answer. How prepared are observers and keen watchers from the “outside world” for a North Korean contingency? Should there be a power vacuum in Pyongyang, will U.S. policy toward the DPRK remain largely as-is?
Read More »
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
Medical Supply Shortfalls, Parenting Through the Pandemic, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap
Apr 17, 2020
This weekly recap focuses on reducing medical supply shortfalls, understanding who's in charge during a pandemic, North Korea's nuclear blackmail, and more.
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North Korea
commentary
The Coronavirus and North Korea: Is There a Cure for Kim's Nuclear Blackmail?
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Apr 13, 2020
The National Interest
Despite the pandemic, North Korea's recent activities suggest that Kim Jong Un will likely stay the course in his ongoing campaign against the United States and the broader Northeast Asia region.
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Security Cooperation
commentary
U.S.–South Korea OPCON Transition: The Element of Timing
Soo W. Kim @mllesookim
Apr 2, 2020
Council on Foreign Relations
As Washington and Seoul continue to examine the feasibility and conditions for wartime operational control transition, decisionmakers will likely face political pressure on timing. It may well be to the advantage of both allies that the determination of the transfer be driven by a hard, thorough diagnosis of military capabilities against emerging threats.
Read More »

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…

Quoted

The United States should find ways to deter Chinese aggression that don't involve making an unambiguous and costly military commitment to Taiwan. Short of such a guarantee, Washington can still make much more explicit that invading Taiwan will entail economic, political, and military consequences for China.

Michael J. Mazarr

Senior Political Scientist

Source: Foreign Affairs

The failure of the jihadists can be judged a victory—albeit a costly one—over an organized effort to instigate violence in the United States. The country, however, has not exhausted its inventory of disaffected young men (and women) who may, in the future, embrace jihadism or other extremist ideologies on offer to convey their discontent.

Brian Michael Jenkins

Senior Adviser to the RAND President

Source: The Hill

The Digital Divide and COVID-19

The Role of Allies and Partners in U.S. Military Strategy and Operations

When It Comes to U.S. Health Systems—Diversity Matters

Taiwan’s KMT May Have a Serious '1992 Consensus' Problem

Reducing the Transmission of COVID-19 in Schools

The Policy Currents Podcast

Measuring Wellbeing to Help Communities Thrive

Managing Escalation in Crisis and War

Planning for the Rising Costs of Dementia

Assessing and Articulating the Wider Benefits of Research

North Korea

What Abe Leaves Behind

In North Korea, The U.S. Could Take the Lead

Preparing for a COVID-19 Election, Hurricane Response, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap

Reopenining Schools, Affordable Housing, Unemployment: RAND Weekly Recap

Moon's North Korea Vision Up in Smoke? Not So Fast…

Will the Real Kim Yo Jong Stand Up?

Is North Korea Prepared to End the Korean War?

For the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, It’s the North Korean Regime, Not Kim Jong Un Per Se, That Is the Threat

North Korea Post–Kim Jong Un Reappearance: Expect Business as Usual in the Hermit Kingdom

North Korean Provocations, Not Denuclearization

A Proposed COVID-19 Cure, Economic Decline, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap

North Korea After Kim Jong Un: 'How' Matters More Than 'Who'

Why We Really Don't Know What Happens If Kim Jong Un Dies

Medical Supply Shortfalls, Parenting Through the Pandemic, North Korea: RAND Weekly Recap

The Coronavirus and North Korea: Is There a Cure for Kim's Nuclear Blackmail?

U.S.–South Korea OPCON Transition: The Element of Timing

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