Author: Stephen Costello, Washington

Reading statements from the US and ROK administrations and the international press regarding recent North Korean declarations against South Korea, it seems that there has been a broad failure to realise that the North is terribly and predictably offended by the rhetoric from the South Korean president and much of the South Korean media.

When Pyongyang says that certain statements from President Lee Myung-bak and the conservative press are injurious and seek to humiliate and degrade North Korea, it means Read more…

Author: Stephen Costello

In March this year, US Senate Foreign Relations Chairman John Kerry chaired a hearing on US policy toward North Korea.

After testimony from government and NGO witnesses, Kerry observed, ‘Based on [widely differing testimonials], I get the sense that we are misinterpreting what our interests are, vis-à-vis [North Korea] and how they view us. And if we are, how useful are six party talks?’ Read more…