April 23, 2024

About the author

Aidan Foster-Carter

Aidan Foster-Carter is Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Sociology and Modern Korea at Leeds University in England. Educated at Eton and Oxford, he taught sociology at the Universities of Hull, Dar es Salaam and Leeds from 1971 to 1997. Having followed Korean affairs since 1968, since 1997 he has been a full-time analyst and consultant on Korea: writing, lecturing and broadcasting for academic, business and policy audiences in the UK and worldwide.

More articles by 'Aidan Foster-Carter'

Castles in the air: North Korea’s delusional economic “strategy”
COLUMN

Castles in the air: North Korea’s delusional economic “strategy”

Juche science, halting reform, and investment from – Russia? You jest

Castles in the air: North Korea’s delusional economic “strategy”
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter May 17, 2019
Why North Korea’s cold-shouldering the South is unfair – and unwise
COLUMN

Why North Korea’s cold-shouldering the South is unfair – and unwise

Kim Jong Un will likely regret biting the hand that fed, and led

Why North Korea’s cold-shouldering the South is unfair – and unwise
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter April 24, 2019
Deft diplomat: How Kim Jong Un tried to remake his international image
COLUMN

Deft diplomat: How Kim Jong Un tried to remake his international image

Seduce Seoul. Tempt Trump. Square China. Kim did it all, at Chollima speed

Deft diplomat: How Kim Jong Un tried to remake his international image
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter December 5, 2018
“Hermit” no more: a North Korea cliché and its pitfalls
COLUMN

“Hermit” no more: a North Korea cliché and its pitfalls

Kim Jong Un wasn’t hiding, just biding his time – like his father before him

“Hermit” no more: a North Korea cliché and its pitfalls
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter October 25, 2018
How the world misunderestimated Kim Jong Un
COLUMN

How the world misunderestimated Kim Jong Un

The latest Kim is a man with a plan - and it's working out just fine

How the world misunderestimated Kim Jong Un
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter October 8, 2018
A third North-South summit: what might it achieve?
COLUMN

A third North-South summit: what might it achieve?

Past Korean false dawns counsel against excess optimism, and window of opportunity may not last long

A third North-South summit: what might it achieve?
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter March 6, 2018
Pyongyang to Pyeongchang: playing non-Olympic games
COLUMN

Pyongyang to Pyeongchang: playing non-Olympic games

As the games begin, it's worth handing out some prizes of our own

Pyongyang to Pyeongchang: playing non-Olympic games
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter February 9, 2018
Why the decision to drop Victor Cha has scary implications
COLUMN

Why the decision to drop Victor Cha has scary implications

The well-regarded scholar was not hawkish enough for Trump

Why the decision to drop Victor Cha has scary implications
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter February 4, 2018
Whizzing to Oz? Australia in Kim Jong Un’s line of fire
COLUMN

Whizzing to Oz? Australia in Kim Jong Un’s line of fire

Pyongyang’s latest bluster echoes unofficial threats it disowned a decade ago

Whizzing to Oz? Australia in Kim Jong Un’s line of fire
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter October 24, 2017
Drawing a “red line” on North Korea: What’s the point?
COLUMN

Drawing a “red line” on North Korea: What’s the point?

First Trump, now Moon Jae-in - but such tough talk achieves little

Drawing a “red line” on North Korea: What’s the point?
Aidan Foster-Carter
Aidan Foster-Carter August 18, 2017