Hyeong Jung Park, an independent researcher on North Korea, analyzes the broader structural context of North Korea's 9th Party Congress and its strategy for establishing a permanent hostile coexistence between the two Koreas. The author explains that North Korea's nuclear capabilities have evolved from a mere security measure into the core of its regime identity, structurally locking in a long-term hostile coexistence. Dr. Park argues out that the "hostile two-states" approach is a calculated strategy to conceal internal vulnerabilities by keeping tensions with South Korea deliberately high, s...

Commentary

• Hyeong Jung Park
• March 17, 2026

In-hwi Park, Dean of the Graduate School of International Studies at Ewha Womans University, analyzes the potential impact of the recent U.S. airstrike on Iran on North Korea-U.S. relations and the Korean Peninsula. The author presents two scenarios regarding North Korea's reaction to the Middle East crisis: either clinging more fiercely to its nuclear arsenal for regime survival or utilizing it as proactive leverage to draw the U.S. to the negotiating table. Dean Park highlights the possibility of upcoming high-level contacts between North Korea and the U.S., expressing hope that Pyongyang wi...

Commentary

• Ihn-Hwi PARK
• March 06, 2026

Seung-ho Jung, Professor at Incheon National University, analyzes the background of the "Local Development 20x10 Policy," characterizing it as an extension of North Korea's regional self-reliance system that has been continuously strengthened by national defense logic, economic hardship, and deepening regional disparities. The author points out the economic limitations of this policy, noting that it bears structural inefficiencies by ignoring economies of scale and comparative advantage, while potentially shrinking market functions and further widening the gap between regions due to selective ...

Commentary

• Seung-ho JUNG
• February 20, 2026