Henri Feron

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

A theory that has very little explanatory power on why NK offers Yongbyon at all. In reality, NK just seeks self-preservation. It engages in diplomacy to get security guarantees. It abandons diplomacy when it realizes the US insists on terms that would leave NK security worse off

[ian bremmer @ianbremmer]

The European divide:

[Rüdiger Frank @RFrankVienna]

This is confusing. North Korea is by far the most undernourished country in the region according to https://t.co/94yHhcxzu6. But the same report shows that it is doing quite well in terms of other comparative indicators, like for example wasting. https://t.co/ce5vX0TFGx

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

For a sober and exhaustive review of the North Korean Worker's Party Congress, see @GTDRP 's latest on @38NorthNK . N. Korea, the nuclear-spiked hedgehog, continues to curl up. More self-reliance, more State planning, more nukes. https://t.co/WWGDhI8FqL

[Markus Garlauskas @Mister_G_2]

More great analysis by @nktpnd! Essential reading, even if my take isn't 100% the same. Far more realistic than considering Kim's comments all empty bombast negotiating ploy. That said, some of the "list" (ex: nuke sub) is less realistic, as noted before: https://t.co/nM0l0ymZWX

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

Great thread by @JohnDelury. COVID is showing that economic isolation doesn't change North Korea's security policies.

[John Delury @JohnDelury]

A platitude of 2020 was that the coronavirus isolated North Korea in a way that sanctions never could. Bob Woodward quoted Matt Pottinger saying as much in his book [in Feb I think!], & I seem to recall the @nytimes putting it that way too.

[Markus Garlauskas @Mister_G_2]

I am disappointed in this dismissive take. It does not represent anything close to a consensus among experienced analysts of North Korea issues. Underestimating Pyongyang's will and capability to advance its nuclear and missile programs is a mistake, as 2016 and 2017 showed.

[Van Jackson @RealVanJackson]

I had a very senior boss in the Pentagon whom I was briefing about Korea. He stopped me and said, "Tell me why I have to make a decision about this today?" I told him all his predecessors said the exact same thing, and that's why his situation was so much worse than theirs...

[Ankit Panda @nktpnd]

We may have one of the most important declarations from North Korea on its planned qualitative nuclear modernization in some time. Stand by for more soon.

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

"Why do they hate us?"
The US tends to understand itself as world police re NK. But NK never considered that Americans had a right to police Koreans. So NK sees US pressure and sanctions as vicious attacks, not as just actions. They'll fight back as long as the pressure continues

[Josh Smith @joshjonsmith]

BREAKING: Just days before Biden take office, Kim Jong Un says North Korea's foreign political activities should be focused and redirected on subduing the U.S. as "our biggest enemy and main obstacle to our development."

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

Academic research topic: The judicialization of foreign policy in the context of the Korean Peninsula. SK-Japan, SK-NK, US-NK.

[Laura Bicker @BBCLBicker]

A court in Seoul has ordered that the Japanese government pay 100 million KRW to the so-called “comfort women” victims of war time sexual slavery.

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

Kim Jong Un declares "the policy stand of [the NK Worker's] Party for comprehensively expanding and developing the external relations [with SK]." Encouraging signal, but economic projects remain blocked by sanctions. Military confidence-building instead? https://t.co/okmJrZwpuW

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

A warrior portrayal that indicates Kim is gearing up for a tougher stance on the US sanctions siege. They're not surrendering. To contain NK nuclear development, it is urgent to redouble engagement. Endless war serves nobody. A peace agreement serves everybody.

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

No surprises here. Pressure and sanctions cause economic damage but are unable to achieve their objective of stopping NK's militarization. Pressure begets pressure, hatred begets hatred. The way out of this vicious cycle is peace and sanctions relief. Live and let live.

[The Korea Society @koreasociety]

"North Korea leader Kim Jong Un vowed to strengthen the country’s military defenses in a speech at a major ruling party meeting that provides insights into his priorities amid growing economic challenges and a U.S. presidential transition." @hyungjin1972

https://t.co/MJcbqgpICy

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

Kim Jong Un at Party Congress: "The key to breaking through the existing manifold difficulties with utmost certainty and speed lies in consolidating our own strength, our internal force, in all respects." Economic difficulty, but no desire to surrender. https://t.co/okmJrZwpuW

[Henri Feron @henriferon]

These disputes could have been avoided if they had been addressed in the San Francisco Treaty, which ended WWII with Japan and was meant to undo its colonial conquests. But Korea and China were excluded from the table. We're still dealing with the consequences 75 years later.

[Robert Manning @Rmanning4]

What does it say about Asian nationalism that major economic players -- ROK, Japan, China, ASEAN seem prepared to fight over a bunch of rocks and outcroppings in the Sea of Japan, E. China Sea, & South China Sea?

[Mary B (TeslaSpotlight) @MaryBteslaspot]

This looks great, and includes the excellent Mark Selden, who has been writing about Asia and the United States since the Vietnam War.

[Dr. Mark P. Barry @DrMarkPBarry]

Iran seizes South Korean tanker as tensions with US mount | The Guardian https://t.co/9V80aI9tJo