April 19, 2024

About the author

Robert E. McCoy

Robert E. McCoy is a retired U.S. Air Force Korean linguist and analyst/reporter who was stationed in Asia for more than fourteen years. He continues to follow developments in East Asia closely. Mr. McCoy’s book Tales You Wouldn’t Tell Your Mother is now out. He can be contacted via his website http://musingsbymccoy.com/ which also lists his previous essays and has personal vignettes on Asia (Tidbits) not published elsewhere.

More articles by 'Robert E. McCoy'

N. Korea now has control over how the Western world turns

N. Korea now has control over how the Western world turns

U.S. has lost whatever bargaining position it might once have had

N. Korea now has control over how the Western world turns
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy October 25, 2016
Donju taxes: N. Korea kills the goose that lay the golden eggs

Donju taxes: N. Korea kills the goose that lay the golden eggs

A recent drive for hard cash in North Korea is hitting the middle class

Donju taxes: N. Korea kills the goose that lay the golden eggs
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy October 17, 2016
North Korea’s attempts to block outside information will fail

North Korea’s attempts to block outside information will fail

Kim Jong Un is right to worry about knowledge that is damaging to his regime coming into the country

North Korea’s attempts to block outside information will fail
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy September 19, 2016
Amid defections, it’s time to expose North Korea’s cash caches

Amid defections, it’s time to expose North Korea’s cash caches

Recent moves by slush fund managers, and some decent detective work, could reveal a lot

Amid defections, it’s time to expose North Korea’s cash caches
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy September 12, 2016
All ready on North Korea’s firing line

All ready on North Korea’s firing line

S.Korea faces a daunting array of missiles and rockets from just across the DMZ  

All ready on North Korea’s firing line
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy September 2, 2016
U.S. needs a long-term goal for North Korea and Northeast Asia

U.S. needs a long-term goal for North Korea and Northeast Asia

Pyongyang’s nukes and missiles challenge regional cooperation, spread insecurity

U.S. needs a long-term goal for North Korea and Northeast Asia
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy August 30, 2016
To talk to North Korea or not – what’s it to be?

To talk to North Korea or not – what’s it to be?

If we're unclear about N. Korea sanctions goals, what can we expect?

To talk to North Korea or not – what’s it to be?
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy August 19, 2016
North Korea makes Obama’s ‘no first use’ goal a very bad idea

North Korea makes Obama’s ‘no first use’ goal a very bad idea

Current U.S. administration doesn’t recognize the fundamental lessons of war

North Korea makes Obama’s ‘no first use’ goal a very bad idea
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy August 9, 2016
Failure to see things as Pyongyang does holds back our understanding

Failure to see things as Pyongyang does holds back our understanding

Those at the top of U.S. diplomatic and political bureaucracies often don’t “get” it

Failure to see things as Pyongyang does holds back our understanding
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy July 28, 2016
UN convention against organized crime: The farce of N.Korean participation

UN convention against organized crime: The farce of N.Korean participation

The difference between the Kim dynasty and the Godfather family is merely one of scale

UN convention against organized crime: The farce of N.Korean participation
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy July 15, 2016