Columns
Columns on the latest North Korea issues from analysts, academics and renowned experts. Views expressed by our columnists are exclusively the authors’ own.
Accidental sanctuary: Where nature and history meet on the North Korean border
Central South Korean areas along the DMZ are home to secret tunnels, sweeping vistas and former communist buildings
How North Korea has clawed back control over the economy by hiking state wages
Public sector salaries have skyrocketed in recent years as Pyongyang looks to revive state economy and suppress markets
Up close and personal: The best border observatories to see North Korean life
Ganghwa and Gimpo west of Seoul provide unparalleled spots to witness the reality of division and how North Koreans live
Cuts to US-funded broadcasters risk silencing key sources for North Korea
As Voice of America and Radio Free Asia face major cuts, questions grow over whether Seoul will step in
Tourism on hold: North Korea signals shift in strategy as reopening fizzles
Tour operators say Pyongyang has gone silent, with analysts pointing to ideological control and shifting priorities
Why Kim Jong Un is likely to skip Russia’s Victory Day parade in Moscow
Logistical challenges, geopolitical concerns and potential Trump meeting could influence Kim’s decision to attend
In a Washington on edge, North Korea policymakers fear for the future
Many in US expect Trump to pursue talks again, but few are willing to speak frankly as budget cuts raise alarm
Trump’s push for peace in Ukraine jeopardizes North Korean’s war bonanza
DPRK’s lucrative arms trade with Russia will suffer after ceasefire, pushing it toward China and potentially even the US
Why North Korea can’t afford to reopen for tourism — even if it wants to
Abrupt closure of Rason shows Kim Jong Un is caught between desire for foreign currency and fear of foreign influence
Russia has given North Korean troops a glimpse beyond regime’s walls
Fighting Ukraine has exposed DPRK soldiers not just to modern war but to the world their government shields them from
