After Ukraine, it’s time to take North Korea’s reunification aims seriously

Opinion

After Ukraine, it’s time to take North Korea’s reunification aims seriously

Few expected Russia to invade. Now the world must prepare for the day DPRK too presses its land claims over South Korea

Benjamin R. Young March 17, 2022

After Ukraine, it’s time to take North Korea’s reunification aims seriously

Soldiers salute from armored tanks as they roll through Kim Il Sung Square during a military parade, April 2017 | Image: NK News (file)

As Russia continues its assault on Ukraine, it’s almost hard to remember that for months before the invasion, many thought it would never happen.

Experts and analysts cited the huge financial costs that would be unbearable for the Kremlin. Others believed Putin was merely saber-rattling in order to get the best deal out of NATO negotiations. One researcher wrote that a full-scale war was out of character for Russia’s grand strategy and “does not really fit into how the Kremlin has used hard power in its geopolitical games.”

About the Author

Benjamin R. Young

Benjamin R. Young is an Assistant Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University). He is the author of Guns, Guerillas, and the Great Leader: North Korea and the Third World (Stanford University Press, 2021). He received his Ph.D. from The George Washington University in 2018. He has previously taught at the U.S. Naval War College and Dakota State University. He has published peer-reviewed articles on North Korean history and politics in a number of scholarly journals and is a regular contributor to NK News.

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