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Tag Archives: South Korea

China Continues Attacks on Vietnamese Fishing Boats

China Continues Attacks on Vietnamese Fishing Boats

The incident last week was not a one-off: there have been dozens of attacks by Chinese vessels on Vietnamese fishing boats in the Paracel Island chain since last year.

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Nuclear Power and Economic Reform in the Age of Kim Jong-un

Nuclear Power and Economic Reform in the Age of Kim Jong-un

At the 7th Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Kim Jong-un is expected to promote his byungjin policy: simultaneously strengthening the nuclear arsenal and fostering economic development.

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Will Beijing Declare Another Air Defense Zone?

Will Beijing Declare Another Air Defense Zone?

In a potential geopolitical tit-for-tat, some analysts warn Beijing may soon declare an air defense identification zone (ADIZ) in the South China Sea, should the U.S. go ahead with plans to conduct a freedom of navigation exercise announced for April.

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North Korea’s Impasse Highlights Northeastern Asia’s Fragile Peace

North Korea’s Impasse Highlights Northeastern Asia’s Fragile Peace

The erratic behavior of the Kim dynasty has long enraged and exasperated both its enemies and allies, though larger states have certainly used North Korea’s existence as a fig leaf for moves of their own.

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The Twilight of President Park’s Trustpolitik

The Twilight of President Park’s Trustpolitik

During her recent address to the National Assembly, President Park stressed her intention to adopt a more assertive strategy toward the North Korean regime.

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Closing Kaesong: Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

Closing Kaesong: Tensions on the Korean Peninsula

On February 10, 2016, South Korea decided to shut down the Kaesong Industrial Complex (KIC). Seoul’s decision followed North Korea’s alleged hydrogen bomb test on January 6 and its long-range missile launch one month later.

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The Inter-Korean Propaganda War

The Inter-Korean Propaganda War

The intensifying animosity was coarsely expressed by a North Korean leaflet at the time: “Let us beat to death Park Geun-hye’s gang of dogs for resuming propaganda broadcasts and deteriorating North-South relations!”

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Beijing Attempts to Stifle South China Sea Discussion at ASEAN

Beijing Attempts to Stifle South China Sea Discussion at ASEAN

Beijing attempted to quash any mention of the South China Sea dispute prior to Tuesday’s meeting in Kuala Lumpur of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

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China Issues Freedom of Religion Policy, Sentences Ilham to Life Imprisonment

China Issues Freedom of Religion Policy, Sentences Ilham to Life Imprisonment

In a long overdue move, China’s highest court, top prosecution office and the Ministry of Public Security issued instructions last week on how to deal with cases of terrorism and religious extremism.

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Beijing Needs to Rethink its North Korean Refugee Policy

Beijing Needs to Rethink its North Korean Refugee Policy

In an apparent act of defiance, North Korea on Tuesday fired rockets several kilometers north of a popular South Korean tourist observatory near the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ).  North Korea has also threatened a fourth nuclear test, in violation of United Nations sanctions, and has test-fired short-range missiles and rockets four times in the past two […]

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Rock, Paper, Scissors in the South China Sea

Rock, Paper, Scissors in the South China Sea

photo: WN.com Rock, paper, scissors is a popular game among youth in China, and can be played anywhere and anytime between two people.  In the game, both participants count to three and then reveal their hand – a fist symbolizes a rock, a flat hand is paper, and two fingers signify scissors.  The winner is […]

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Vietnamese Woman Burns Self to Protest China

Vietnamese Woman Burns Self to Protest China

Protest continued in Vietnam this past weekend as a 67-year-old Vietnamese woman burned herself to death at the front gate of Reunification Palace in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday morning. Vietnamese authorities believe the suicide was the result of personal troubles and anger, as they discovered a bag at the scene containing seven banners […]

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As Beijing Asserts, Hanoi Reacts

As Beijing Asserts, Hanoi Reacts

This week, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung oversaw the launch of the Vietnam Fisheries Resources Surveillance force, set up to ensure the enforcement of fishing laws in the East Sea, otherwise known as the South China Sea. As established under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the force will assist deep-sea fishermen and […]

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A Cold Wind Blows Across Asia

A Cold Wind Blows Across Asia

Relationship managers across Asia have a potently difficult year ahead as news reports continue to highlight actions and words that are anything but conducive to cooperation and understanding between regional states. When a former British ambassador to North Korea writes an op-ed in the Daily Telegraph titled “Are China, Japan and South Korea fanning the […]

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Global media interpretations of China’s rescue of stranded passengers off Antarctica vary

Global media interpretations of China’s rescue of stranded passengers off Antarctica vary

The Chinese icebreaker Xue Long‘s rescue of the passengers aboard the stranded Russian research vessel MV Akademik Shokalskiy has made headlines around the world. Since December 24, the Russian ship has been stuck in pack ice near Antarctica’s Cape de la Motte, approximately 1,700 miles south of Tasmania. MV Akademik Shokalskiy was about midway through the month-long Australasian Antarctic Expedition, run by the University of New […]

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