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Li Dunqiu, Director of Division of Korean Peninsular Studies at the Institute of World Development Center of Development Studies, writes, “Sino-DPRK economic cooperation is growing in depth and width but both sides adopt a low-profile and practical attitude… In fact Chinese enterprises, both private and state-owned, are looking for greater room for their future development as a result of the constantly improving market economy in China. Amid such backdrop, the DPRK naturally becomes their target… It is not difficult to see that laws of the market economy are the most fundamental reason behind Chinese enterprises investment in DPRK.”

Yi Kiho, Director of the South Korea office of the Nautilus Institute, writes, “What we can understand from the responses of each sector of civil society is that neither group is focused on the military threat posed by the missile launches… Instead of using the missile tests just to criticize the North Korean policies of the United States (in the case of progressives) or South Korea (in the case of conservatives), it would be more productive for South Korean NGOs to provide constructive alternatives. It is high time for South Korean civil society to put aside long-standing ideological differences and work together on building a peaceful future for the Korean Peninsula.”

Policy Forum Online 06-66A: August 10th, 2006 North Korea’s Missile Launches and South Korea’s Response Essay by Moo-jin Yang CONTENTS I. Introduction  II. Essay by Moo-jin Yang  III. Nautilus invites your responses   I. Introduction   Moo-jin Yang, a Professor at the Graduate School of North Korean Studies who majored in international politics and specializes […]

The ROK Ministry of Unification released this statement on the Gaesong project and the current status of Inter-Korean Economic Cooperation. “Most of cash that flows into the complex is the wages and U.S. $ 0.5 million are paid on a monthly basis to cover living expenses for estimated 30,000-40,000 people including 8,000 workers and their family members. Given that number of people, is there something to be left for diversion?”

Kim Tae-kyung, a staff writer at OhmyNews specializing in Northeast Asia regional issues, writes “Thus, this event should be an issue between North Korea and the U.S. Of the many concerned countries, Japan has taken the hardest stance in response to North Korea’s missile launch. Indeed, Japan acts as if it had been attacked by North Korea.”

Leon V. Sigal, Director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council, writes “The hard-liners believe Pyongyang is determined to arm and will never trade away its weapons. Their conviction is not just faith-based: it is a self-fulfilling prophecy. Without a serious U.S. effort to negotiate, they are certain to be right.”

Policy Forum Online 06-61A: July 25th, 2006 Policy Forum Online 06-61A: July 25th, 2006 North Korea Focusing On Technological Development To Revive Economy Report by the Institute for Far Eastern Studies CONTENTS I. Introduction II. Report by the Institute for Far Eastern Studies III. Nautilus invites your responses I. Introduction This report, published by the […]

This report, published by the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University, notes, “North Korea has chosen technology as a national priority and refocused its budget through the principle of ‘focus and choice.’ Furthermore, it seems to be pursuing technological development by simultaneously renewing its existing industries and establishing a foundation for high technology.”

Peter Hayes, Nautilus Institute Executive Director, writes “The DPRK can now take two paths. It can do nothing for a while, try to obtain the typical late year delivery of food aid from the ROK before winter hits, and hope to muddle through. Or, it can test and hope to adapt its economy in magnificent, nuclear-armed isolation, waiting for the world to adjustto the new strategic reality of North Koreas existence as a nuclear weapons state.”