[Global NK Commentary] North Korea’s COVID-19 Crisis and
South Korea’s Response
The unexpected spread of
COVID-19 in North Korea has added another layer of uncertainty on the Korean
Peninsula. In this commentary, Philo Kim, Associate Professor at the Institute
for Peace and Unification Studies (IPUS) at Seoul National University, analyzes
the domestic and external implications of North Korea’s recent surge in
COVID-19 cases. While it could adversely impact North Korea’s political and
economic system as well as the society on one hand, it could also provide
opportunities for a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations. In this regard, the
author proposes that Seoul should embrace humanitarian values, bearing in mind
that the peninsula is under a state of crisis, and seek ways to support the
North. [Global NK Interview] The Implications of Increasing
Provocations of North Korea Dr.
Richard K. Betts, Leo A. Shifrin Professor of War and Peace Studies at Columbia
University, discusses the implications of North Korea’s provocations and
suggestions for maintaining security on the Korean peninsula. On North Korea’s
provocations, Dr. Betts claims that North Korea’s recent provocations are in
fact, not tremendously significant as portrayed but represent a failure of U.S.
hopes of using the prospect of negotiations as a leverage to prevent Pyongyang’s
tests. While U.S. allies remain skeptical on U.S. efforts on extended
deterrence, he claims that this is the “best” the U.S. can do and has done in
the past. On the deployment of Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD),
which has invited heated debate among Seoul and Beijing, Dr. Betts underscores
that the initiative behind such deployment lies in responding to North Korea’s
threats. Additionally, he recommends that South Korea and the U.S. should try
to find a conventional arms control solution and trade that for sanctions
relief in North Korea to alleviate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. EAST ASIA INSTITUTE 1, Sajik-dong 7gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03028, Republic of KoreaTel 82 2 2277 1683 | Fax 82 2 2277 1684 | Email EAICopyright 2021 © EAST ASIA INSTITUTE. All Rights Reserved. 수신거부 Unsubscribe |
