[학술논문] Domestic Politics in 2025: South Korea's Polarized Democracy After Martial Law

...and significant predictor of leftist identification in the population, even for the young generation. A new axis around gender equality is emerging, but its partisan pull is limited to women. Whether the martial law crisis serves as a force of realignment or retrenchment for South Korea's polarized democracy appears to depend less on street-level politics and more on party elites and leadership.

[학술논문] China’s Role in the Second North Korean Nuclear Crisis

...test on May 25, 2009, despite China’s strong warnings. The second nuclear test startled China’s leadership and put China in a tight spot diplomatically. Is China still a viable mediator to solve the North Korean nuclear problem? China has been central as facilitator, mediator, and host of the six‐party talks since 2003. China has pursued three vital national interests on the North Korean nuclear issue:...

[학술논문] Political Economy of North Korea’s WMD Venture and Its Strategic Implications

...system in danger of experiencing a serious regime crisis. The dilemma of having to choose between maintaining internal stability and guaranteeing the regime security has driven the North Korean leadership to design a risky strategy of missile and nuclear development. That was the only choice it could take for getting international attentions. International sanctions have proven to be insufficient...

[학위논문] 조선인민군의 사회주의 농촌건설 참여와 ‘군민일치(軍民一致)’ 사회 형성(1945~1972)

...units of the regular armed forces developed a form of leadership through solidarity with rural communities. Based on these analyses, the study presents three key conclusions: First, the KPA functioned as the main force in the construction of socialism in North Korea. From the outbreak of the Korean War, the KPA was designated by the Workers’ Party and the North Korean government as a critical human...

[학위논문] 북한의 핵인식과 정책 변화 동인 연구: 6자회담 이탈 전후 시기를 중심으로

...prompted by rising external pressures-such as the emergence of U.S.-China strategic rivalry, the stalling of the Six-Party Talks, and delays in North Korea’s delisting from the U.S. terrorism sponsor list-as well as internal instability stemming from Kim Jong-il’s stroke and leadership succession concerns. Perceiving the collapse of denuclearization efforts, North Korea escalated nuclear development...

[해외] Post-Party Congress Elections

...follow-on events to the Ninth Party Congress. North Korea held national elections for the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) on March 15, its first parliamentary elections in seven years and two years behind schedule. Following his replacement as director of Bureau 10, formerly the United Front Department (UFD), during the Party Congress, Ri Son Gwon took on leadership positions at one of the DPRK’s...

[해외] Wang Yi’s Pyongyang Visit: Kim Jong Un Signals Renewed Efforts to Improve Ties but Alignment Still Lacking

Notably, North Korea’s summary report of the Ninth Party Congress made no mention of China or Russia, a contrast to the Eighth Party Congress report in 2021. Kim Jong Un’s recent speech to the parliament stressed the need to “improve and strengthen, from a developmental point of view,” relations with friendly countries “in line with the requirements of the new era,” without specifying those countries...

[해외] North Korea Touts Kim’s Decade of Leadership, Charts Course for Ninth Party Congress

During the fourth quarter of 2025, North Korea commemorated the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK), declared completion of the five-year plan put forward at the Eighth Party Congress in 2021, and laid the groundwork for the Ninth Party Congress scheduled for 2026. During the Party’s anniversary celebrations, Kim unveiled a new vision for governance and nation-building over the next...

[해외] Expert Takes on Opening Session of the 15th Supreme People’s Assembly

...Un was elected as the “president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea [DPRK; North Korea]”—his third election to this position after 2016 and 2021. In addition, state leadership bodies and SPA committees were elected; the constitution was revised; and the new five-year national economic development plan and the state budget were discussed. Kim Jong Un also delivered a policy...

[해외] Is Kim Jong Un Headed for “DPRK President” Title?

...president” title in the constitution and appoint Kim to that role at the Supreme People’s Assembly (SPA) session following the Party Congress or at another future SPA meeting, the implications could extend beyond prestige or a ceremonial upgrade for a leader who already heads the Party, state, and the military. It could affect the country’s decision-making structure, including on defense and foreign policy...