April 23, 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'

To ‘get’ Kim Jong Un, Sun Tzu trumps Clausewitz

To ‘get’ Kim Jong Un, Sun Tzu trumps Clausewitz

In order to deal with dictators, one has to understand what motivates them, to be in their head

To ‘get’ Kim Jong Un, Sun Tzu trumps Clausewitz
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy April 27, 2016
Visitors to N.Korea revisited: Not all cards are showing?

Visitors to N.Korea revisited: Not all cards are showing?

Resistance is not futile, and some American visitors may not be what they seem

Visitors to N.Korea revisited: Not all cards are showing?
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy April 18, 2016
North Korea’s nuclear weapons not its worst threat

North Korea’s nuclear weapons not its worst threat

Recent fourth nuclear device not the only WMD threat facing South Korea and its allies

North Korea’s nuclear weapons not its worst threat
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy April 11, 2016
Restrict tourism with North Korea, not dialogue

Restrict tourism with North Korea, not dialogue

Why spend political capital ransoming fools rather than investing in negotiations?

Restrict tourism with North Korea, not dialogue
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy April 4, 2016
Computers beat Go players; can they help beat Kim Jong Un?

Computers beat Go players; can they help beat Kim Jong Un?

Wanted: A foreign policy version of AlphaGo to help with America’s foreign policy goals in Asia

Computers beat Go players; can they help beat Kim Jong Un?
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy March 28, 2016
The Kim who cries wolf

The Kim who cries wolf

Beware of complacency, even if odds of N.Korean attack are actually low

The Kim who cries wolf
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy March 22, 2016
What are the West’s long-term goals for N.Korea?

What are the West’s long-term goals for N.Korea?

If we don’t know what we want – or set realistic goals – we will never get it

What are the West’s long-term goals for N.Korea?
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy March 15, 2016
The U.S., N.Korea and East Asia policy: Foggy thinking at Foggy Bottom?

The U.S., N.Korea and East Asia policy: Foggy thinking at Foggy Bottom?

Can the U.S. rein in China’s territorial ambitions and still expect its help enforcing sanctions?

The U.S., N.Korea and East Asia policy: Foggy thinking at Foggy Bottom?
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy March 8, 2016
Not thinking far enough ahead on N.Korea

Not thinking far enough ahead on N.Korea

Recent responses by both S.Korea, U.S. will most likely have unintended consequences

Not thinking far enough ahead on N.Korea
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy February 21, 2016
Another kind of fallout from North Korea’s fourth nuclear test

Another kind of fallout from North Korea’s fourth nuclear test

One can't deny Pyongyang's goals or its progress, or that it's time for a more hands-on approach

Another kind of fallout from North Korea’s fourth nuclear test
Robert E. McCoy
Robert E. McCoy January 7, 2016
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