Korea

North Korea ramps up military rhetoric as Kim gives up on reunification with South

North Korea ramps up military rhetoric as Kim gives up on reunification with South: North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un is continuing to ramp up his focus on nuclear weapons and taking a more aggressive military stance towards his neighbour South Korea. In his 2023 year-end speech, in which he outlined his plans for 2024, Kim …

North Korea: electoral reform prompts speculation that Kim Jong-un is grooming his daughter to succeed him

North Korea: electoral reform prompts speculation that Kim Jong-un is grooming his daughter to succeed him: This year, unusually, North Korea allowed more than one candidate on the ballot for the recent local elections. Under new laws introduced in August this year, voters are now asked to choose between two candidates for North Korea’s local …

Russian and North Korea artillery deal paves the way for dangerous cyberwar alliance

Russian and North Korea artillery deal paves the way for dangerous cyberwar alliance: Russia is currently firing some 14 million shells a year in Ukraine. They are only manufacturing 2 million. The Ukrainians, on the other hand, are firing around 2.5 million shells a year, but are also struggling to source them. A deal between …

Ukraine war: two good reasons the world should worry about Russia’s arms purchases from North Korea

Ukraine war: two good reasons the world should worry about Russia’s arms purchases from North Korea: US national security council official John Kirby noted on August 30 that arms transfer negotiations between North Korea and Russia are “actively advancing” as the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, seeks to feed his war machine. Under an array of …

North Korea: fears of a new famine after three years of COVID isolation and harsh repression

North Korea: fears of a new famine after three years of COVID isolation and harsh repression: Three years after COVID-19 hit, people around the world have regained their freedom to move between countries. All except in one country: North Korea, or the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). In January 2020, Kim Jong-un decided to …

Thousands of badgers being farmed in South Korea could be a disease risk

Thousands of badgers being farmed in South Korea could be a disease risk: Photographer wishes to remain anonymous , Author provided Campaigners in South Korea are celebrating news that the country will ban bear farming by 2026. This follows three decades of uncertainty over an industry dogged by claims of poor welfare conditions, animal abuse …

Kim Jong-un purges: why North Korea is such a dangerous place to be successful in politics

Kim Jong-un purges: why North Korea is such a dangerous place to be successful in politics: North Korea celebrated the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People’s Army in February. As it showed off 12 of its massive intercontinental ballistic missile in a military parade, expert Korea-watchers spotted there appear to have been …

South Korea to ban bear farming, but what to do about hundreds of captive animals that remain?

South Korea to ban bear farming, but what to do about hundreds of captive animals that remain?: Joshua Powell, Author provided South Korea’s successful restoration of a wild Asiatic black bear population to Jirisan National Park is a huge conservation success story. But the fortune of this wild population stands in contrast to the plight …

BTS singer set for military training – but South Korea is far from alone in retaining national service

BTS singer set for military training – but South Korea is far from alone in retaining national service: Late last year, the first member of the most successful and famous boy band on the planet – BTS – began military service. Singer and songwriter, Kim Seok-jin (popularly known as Jin), 30, began five weeks of …

North Korea: record number of missile tests in 2022 has raised fears of nuclear confrontation with the South

North Korea: record number of missile tests in 2022 has raised fears of nuclear confrontation with the South: North Korea began 2023 as it had ended 2022 – with some characteristic sabre-rattling in the form of missile tests. Having launched more missiles in 2022 than in any other year, on the morning of January 1 …

Russian aggression in Ukraine may prompt Japan and South Korea to abandon nuclear non-proliferation – here’s why

Russian aggression in Ukraine may prompt Japan and South Korea to abandon nuclear non-proliferation – here’s why: The war in Ukraine called into question many of the fundamental pillars of the international order. The European security system that has developed since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact has received a shattering …