[Global NK Interview] Intensifying North Korean Threats and Directions for Seoul-Tokyo Security Cooperation |
In response to increasing nuclear and missile threats coming from Pyongyang, Nishino Junya, Professor at Keio University, claims that Japan is determined to increase its defense capacity, further strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance, and expand cooperation with neighboring countries in the region. By implementing the five-year military plan and adopting a new law on its nuclear forces that includes a condition of using nuclear weapons against non-nuclear powers, North Korea seems to boost nuclear capabilities for revising the status quo and buttressing its bargaining power against Washington. Professor Nishino is pessimistic about the possibility of DPRK’s denuclearization, and he highlights the need for South Korea-Japan coordination to strengthen deterrence and prepare a long-term roadmap. In addition, he suggests that the two countries could deepen diplomatic ties between them based on their new Indo-Pacific strategies. |
[Global NK Research Review] Understanding North Korea’s Sociopolitical Structure |
Gyun Yeol Park, Professor at Gyeongsang National University, highlights that North Korea`s one-party dictatorship centered around its supreme leader suppresses political participation and human rights and hinders North Korea from overcoming the hardships of low economic growth, inefficiency, and recessions. Considering that Seoul and Pyongyang should work together to address the issues on the Korean peninsula, Professor Park argues that seeking a nuanced understanding of North Korea is not a matter of choice but an essential task that demands serious research. |
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