Author Archive

Gizmodo Kim Jong-il Photo Shop Contest

Tuesday, June 30th, 2009

Gizmodo has an excellent array of Kim Jong-il photos; In Which We Provoke Kim Jong Il in 77 Offensive and Hilarious Ways. Some are sure to become often used classics.

Very light posting to continue…

Wednesday, June 17th, 2009

I’ve been very busy with work, family, and reserves the past few weeks. The pace is not expected to let up any time soon, but as there are lulls I’ll post updates.

North Korea Political-Military Update: Tensions High and Rising

Monday, June 1st, 2009

Several factors – all driven by Pyongyang – are at work and have created an increasingly tense military situation on the peninsula. Additional long-range missile tests are expected, and naval clashes along the Northern Limit Line (NLL) are becoming more likely.
Political
Some background: In January 2009, North Korea “voided” all political-military agreements with [...]

U.S. SecDef Gates Comments on North Korea

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

That someone in the administration recognizes the absurdity of engaging in Ground Hog Day deals with North Korea (and is publicly commenting about it) is somewhat encouraging. Robert Gates, U.S. Secretary of Defense, recently had this to say about North Korea:
“We will not stand idly by as North Korea builds the capability to [...]

Blogs on North Korean Issues

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

ROK Drop: US Says It Can Intercept North Korean Missile
NK Econ Watch: North Korea’s social change, and; DPRK not about to collapse
DPRK Forum: Countdown to the Showtrial in the DPRK
EagleSpeak: North Korea Threatens
War is Boring: Kyle’s Far East Roundup 5/29/09 [see leadership chart]
Notions Capital: North Korea - Alternative Theory
Ogle Earth: North Korea’s 2009 nuclear test: [...]

NK Econ Watch on MSNBC, Featured in Times Online

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Curtis Melvin, of the North Korean Economy Watch blog and North Korea Uncovered (Google Earth), recently did an interview on the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC, and is featured in a Times Online article, both focusing on his mapping of North Korea. If you use Google Earth and have an interest in North Korea, his [...]

Four Years

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Missed it on the 30th as I was working late, but it’s now been four years since DPRK Studies has been in blog format.

NK Short-Range Missile Launches Relatively Unimportant

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

The importance of the three short-range missiles launched by North Korea on Monday and the two follow-on launches Tuesday is being overstated in the press and by some politicians; this week is not about short-range missiles but about an apparently functional nuclear device design.
North Korea generally conducts several short-range ground-to-ship or ship-to-ship missile flight [...]

Repatriated Japanese Abductee Family Adjusting Well

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009

From the Japan Times: “Yasushi Chimura and his wife, Fukie, abducted by North Korea in 1978 but repatriated in 2002, expressed relief Friday that their children [now ages 27, 25, and 21] are adapting smoothly to Japanese life as they marked the fifth anniversary of their arrival in Japan.”

Why North Korea Conducted a Second Nuclear Test

Monday, May 25th, 2009

The title assumes North Korea did test a nuclear device, which I think likely, and not an equivalent amount of TNT, initially thought a possibility in 2006 until radioactive isotopes of krypton and xenon were detected.
There are several reasons for a North Korea to conduct a nuclear test and it’s difficult if not impossible [...]