Recent turmoil in Egypt has brought hope to many Egyptians of a better future. While many democratic states have praised these events, authoritarian governments such as Yemen and Saudi Arabia fear the consequences of similar uprisings. Although we should not expect North Korea to be happy with Mubarak’s demise, it remains possible that Pyongyang will continue to have positive relations with any new regime in Cairo.  The history of the short yet cordial relationship between both states provides insights about its likely future course.

With its isolationist nature and a strong pro-ethnic Korean rhetoric, one might initially have thought that