April 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'

As the new year dawns, the leaders of the two Koreas are worlds apart

As the new year dawns, the leaders of the two Koreas are worlds apart

Moon Jae-in remains tied to a failed policy as Kim Jong Un reverts to the hardline style of the past

As the new year dawns, the leaders of the two Koreas are worlds apart
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek January 13, 2020
Why, in planning its next move, North Korea is keeping experts guessing

Why, in planning its next move, North Korea is keeping experts guessing

Western discourse on the DPRK is rife with misunderstanding about Pyongyang's real needs and intentions

Why, in planning its next move, North Korea is keeping experts guessing
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek December 26, 2019
The looming deadline in nuclear talks: Kim’s three options before the year’s end

The looming deadline in nuclear talks: Kim’s three options before the year’s end

The DPRK leader wants a deal with the U.S., but he can fall back on Russia, China, and "Juche" should efforts fail

The looming deadline in nuclear talks: Kim’s three options before the year’s end
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek November 29, 2019
Beyond the impasse: the answer to solving the GSOMIA dispute lies in the past

Beyond the impasse: the answer to solving the GSOMIA dispute lies in the past

Historical issues between the two countries must be resolved if the U.S. is to achieve its trilateral alliance

Beyond the impasse: the answer to solving the GSOMIA dispute lies in the past
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek November 7, 2019
What Kim Jong Un’s recent Mt. Paektu climb tells us about leadership legitimacy

What Kim Jong Un’s recent Mt. Paektu climb tells us about leadership legitimacy

The DPRK leader is presented as a man who has overcome many obstacles, and is ready for the challenges of the future

What Kim Jong Un’s recent Mt. Paektu climb tells us about leadership legitimacy
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek October 29, 2019
What to expect from North Korea’s brinksmanship diplomacy going forward

What to expect from North Korea’s brinksmanship diplomacy going forward

The disastrous Hanoi summit likely pushed the DPRK into taking a more hardline position

What to expect from North Korea’s brinksmanship diplomacy going forward
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek October 9, 2019
One year since the Pyongyang Declaration: how inter-Korean relations went sour

One year since the Pyongyang Declaration: how inter-Korean relations went sour

President Moon must take stock of where things went wrong and work to restore trust with Kim Jong Un

One year since the Pyongyang Declaration: how inter-Korean relations went sour
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek September 18, 2019
Mr. Moon’s inter-Korean policy has hit a dead-end

Mr. Moon’s inter-Korean policy has hit a dead-end

Despite attempts to engage with the North, the ROK President has been met with insults since Hanoi

Mr. Moon’s inter-Korean policy has hit a dead-end
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek August 29, 2019
Kim Jong Un’s new tactic: the return of “brinksmanship diplomacy”

Kim Jong Un’s new tactic: the return of “brinksmanship diplomacy”

Recent moves are fine-tuned to pressure the South while stopping short of aggravating the U.S.

Kim Jong Un’s new tactic: the return of “brinksmanship diplomacy”
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek August 6, 2019
What a deal with the U.S. might mean for Kim Jong Un’s leadership

What a deal with the U.S. might mean for Kim Jong Un’s leadership

The young leader's emphasis on the economy over nuclear development could be risky

What a deal with the U.S. might mean for Kim Jong Un’s leadership
Wang Son-taek
Wang Son-taek July 21, 2019