March 29, 2024

About the author

Wang Son-taek

Wang Son-taek is a research associate at Yeosijae (Future Consensus Institute) and a former diplomatic correspondent for South Korea's YTN news network.

More articles by 'Wang Son-taek'

Leaflets are psychological warfare. South Korea was right to ban them.

Leaflets are psychological warfare. South Korea was right to ban them.

Citizens can still loudly criticize North Korea, but it’s up to the government to make diplomacy work

Leaflets are psychological warfare. South Korea was right to ban them.
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek December 24, 2020
Reunification is no ‘pipe dream.’ Korea has already started to reconcile.

Reunification is no ‘pipe dream.’ Korea has already started to reconcile.

An op-ed recently argued that the most Koreans can realistically hope for is a "mild Cold War" — but that's not right

Reunification is no ‘pipe dream.’ Korea has already started to reconcile.
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek December 7, 2020
What’s going on with Kim Jong Un’s close circle of women?

What’s going on with Kim Jong Un’s close circle of women?

Kim Yo Jong seems estranged, Kim Jong Un's wife is still missing and Hyon Song Wol is shining in the spotlight

What’s going on with Kim Jong Un’s close circle of women?
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek October 26, 2020
The inter-Korean leaflet launch saga: winners and losers

The inter-Korean leaflet launch saga: winners and losers

Kim Jong Un succeeded in communicating the North's frustration, while Moon Jae-in's inter-Korean efforts lie in tatters

The inter-Korean leaflet launch saga: winners and losers
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek July 9, 2020
Why supporting de facto Chinese rule of North Korea would be a huge mistake

Why supporting de facto Chinese rule of North Korea would be a huge mistake

Allowing heavy Beijing intervention would exacerbate rather than resolve underlying tensions on the Korean peninsula

Why supporting de facto Chinese rule of North Korea would be a huge mistake
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek May 28, 2020
How North Korean media responds to rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health

How North Korean media responds to rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health

Past cases show DPRK media does not respond to international speculation, but is able to report genuine health issues

How North Korean media responds to rumors about Kim Jong Un’s health
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek May 6, 2020
Why North Korea may have, quietly, scrapped its last five-year economic plan

Why North Korea may have, quietly, scrapped its last five-year economic plan

With sanctions relief unlikely and a "break-through battle" ahead, Kim Jong Un is shifting gears

Why North Korea may have, quietly, scrapped its last five-year economic plan
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek April 15, 2020
What Choe Son Hui’s three-month absence could mean for North Korean policy

What Choe Son Hui’s three-month absence could mean for North Korean policy

A potential reshuffle in the DPRK foreign ministry speaks to shifting sands among Pyongyang's leadership

What Choe Son Hui’s three-month absence could mean for North Korean policy
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek March 26, 2020
Reading between the lines: what North Korea’s coronavirus response has revealed

Reading between the lines: what North Korea’s coronavirus response has revealed

The DPRK's response to COVID-19 shows their health system is highly organized but vulnerable to outbreaks of disease

Reading between the lines: what North Korea’s coronavirus response has revealed
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek March 6, 2020
Why neither the U.S. nor North Korea want a return to diplomacy anytime soon

Why neither the U.S. nor North Korea want a return to diplomacy anytime soon

There is little demand domestically in either the U.S. or the DPRK for another summit between their two leaders

Why neither the U.S. nor North Korea want a return to diplomacy anytime soon
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek February 12, 2020
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