Andrei Lankov is a Director at NK News and writes exclusively for the site as one of the world's leading authorities on North Korea. A graduate of Leningrad State University, he attended Pyongyang's Kim Il Sung University from 1984-5 - an experience you can read about here. In addition to his writing, he is also a Professor at Kookmin University.
Purge fears, reduced political enthusiasm and concern over national prospects all key factors
Bungling of defection explanation consistent with North Korean historical record
For multiple reasons, there is little reason to be hopeful of positive results
"Chinese worries are reasonable, and unlikely to be placated through smiles and assurances"
Whatever their goal, sanctions are seen as the only way to go in the Washington of summer 2016
The future circumstances under which China might wish to influence a Northern Korean government
The Byungjin line’s chances of succeeding are not impossible – just really unlikely
For 4 exchange students in Eastern Europe, de-Stalinization was not just an intellectual challenge
Coal is relatively easy to produce, so business-state partnerships have turned profits
Specialist news and analysis,
research tools, and unique data sets
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