April 25, 2024

About the author

John Lee

John Lee is the editor of KOREA PRO, based in Seoul. Prior to that, he was a contributor for NK News and KOREA PRO. His focus is on South Korean foreign policy and ROK-U.S. relations.

More articles by 'John Lee'

Thae Yong-ho’s free speech double-standard: Balloons vs propaganda

Thae Yong-ho’s free speech double-standard: Balloons vs propaganda

Controversy over Kim Il Sung’s memoirs is a reminder that fundamental rights have become politicized in South Korea

Thae Yong-ho’s free speech double-standard: Balloons vs propaganda
John Lee
John Lee May 26, 2021
With diplomacy going nowhere, it’s time to accept the status quo with North Korea

With diplomacy going nowhere, it’s time to accept the status quo with North Korea

Military action would end in disaster, and lifting sanctions would set a dangerous precedent

With diplomacy going nowhere, it’s time to accept the status quo with North Korea
John Lee
John Lee June 23, 2019
Why Moon Jae-in’s North Korea policy isn’t working

Why Moon Jae-in’s North Korea policy isn’t working

With Trump and Kim refusing to budge, the South Korean President is headed for failure

Why Moon Jae-in’s North Korea policy isn’t working
John Lee
John Lee April 18, 2019
After Trump, what? Moon Jae-in’s fragile legacy on North Korea

After Trump, what? Moon Jae-in’s fragile legacy on North Korea

Though he has succeeded in flattering the U.S. President, history will not be kind to the ROK leader

After Trump, what? Moon Jae-in’s fragile legacy on North Korea
John Lee
John Lee November 19, 2018
Why a breakout of war on the peninsula is the least of South Korea’s worries

Why a breakout of war on the peninsula is the least of South Korea’s worries

Stuck between "American First" and Byungjin, Seoul needs to steel itself for uncertainty

Why a breakout of war on the peninsula is the least of South Korea’s worries
John Lee
John Lee November 1, 2017
How North Korea won this round of tensions

How North Korea won this round of tensions

Poor leadership in Seoul and Washington has given Pyongyang the upper hand

How North Korea won this round of tensions
John Lee
John Lee August 16, 2017
How Donald Trump is seriously undermining the South Korea-U.S. alliance

How Donald Trump is seriously undermining the South Korea-U.S. alliance

From the "armada" to THAAD, it seems each new blunder alienates Seoul more and more

How Donald Trump is seriously undermining the South Korea-U.S. alliance
John Lee
John Lee April 30, 2017
Kim Jong Nam’s killing shows that talking to North Korea is pointless

Kim Jong Nam’s killing shows that talking to North Korea is pointless

The brutal crime shows that the DPRK is not a normal country

Kim Jong Nam’s killing shows that talking to North Korea is pointless
John Lee
John Lee March 7, 2017
Make no mistake: Reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex is a terrible idea

Make no mistake: Reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex is a terrible idea

Restarting work at KIC would require total transparency from North Korea - an impossible scenario

Make no mistake: Reopening the Kaesong Industrial Complex is a terrible idea
John Lee
John Lee February 20, 2017
The coming drift in the U.S.-South Korean alliance

The coming drift in the U.S.-South Korean alliance

With Trump in the White House and a progressive government in Seoul likely, a clash is coming

The coming drift in the U.S.-South Korean alliance
John Lee
John Lee January 19, 2017