North Korean satellites and missiles: advantage hardliners
A concert is held in Pyongyang in February 2012 to commemorate the birthday of North Korean late leader Kim Jong-il. On the screen is shown the rocket that carried a satellite North Korea launched in April 2009 (Photo: AAP).

Author: Andray Abrahamian, Choson Exchange and University of Ulsan

North Korea’s announcement of a satellite test planned for April has kicked up quite a fuss as governments try to decide how to respond.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it would be a ‘grave provocation’, while Japan’s cabinet secretary urged North Korea not to carry out the test, saying it was a violation of UN sanctions.

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Economic performance and legitimacy in North Korea
Kim Jong-il and his heir apparent son Kim Jong-un clap during a grand evening gala at the Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang on 11 October. The gala celebrated the 65th anniversary of the Workers Party of Korea. The anniversary is closely watched as the North seeks to bolster the standing of the young heir apparent in a country with a broken economy and nuclear weapons. (Photo: AAP)

Authors: Geoffrey K. See and Andray Abrahamian, Choson Exchange

Intra-elite competition for investments in North Korea, with multiple channels backed by different individuals at the highest levels of the North Korean government, has significantly increased in the last two years.

This competition appears to mark a shift towards increasing reliance on economic performance as a primary source of legitimacy for the North Korean government. Read more…