Jenny Town
@j3nnyt0wn
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Senior Fellow at @StimsonCenter; Director of Stimson Korea Program and @38NorthNK; Associate Fellow of @FPI_SAIS. Views are my own. RTs are not endorsements.
Washington, DC
Joined December 2014
This is not going to be received well by the people. If the PPP wanted to salvage their image after Yoon’s autocratic behavior, this is not the way.
NEWS: Some conservative lawmakers are walking out of the chamber after casting the first vote. Conservative party has decided it will boycott the impeachment vote. That means the vote could fail by boycott.
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Since when is invoking martial law to eradicate opposition a “shared value”? Condemn the tyrant. Support the will of the people to prevail. That would have been meaningful. This is just wrong.
The U.S. believes President Yoon's announcement to end martial law is a crucial step. As our senior leaders continue to engage with the ROK to support our shared values & ensure stability in the region, we reaffirm our ironclad commitment to the 🇺🇸🇰🇷 Alliance, to the security of.
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Pleased to announce that we've expanding our Korea work at @StimsonCenter. Our new Korea Program enables us to examine the full range of issues that impact the Korean Peninsula and its relations with the world, with particular focus on the US-ROK alliance
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Truly honored and humbled to be included on this list of “Groundbreakers” among such impressive leaders. Thank you @worthmag for including me!!
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I really think this narrative that Biden has finally "wrangled" South Korea and Japan misses the mark. Yoon has been very far forward on rapprochement with Japan, which has enabled both bilateral and trilateral cooperation to take hold.
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Some thoughts on why South Korea and the US are in such different stages of dealing with COVID-19, despite having confirmed their first cases on the same day. It's all about leadership, coordination & engaging the public in an open and honest dialogue.
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No ballistic missiles have ever been launched from the launch pad at Sohae/Tongchang-ri. It has only ever been used for satellite launches. The activity happening at Sohae now, while unfortunate, only shows construction going on, not anything that would indicate test prep.
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On the anniversary of the #KoreanWar, it's worth taking a moment to reflect on the absurdity that it has technically persisted for 70 years despite decades without active conflict. What will it take to finally end the war?.
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Am incredibly humbled and grateful to be featured among such innovative and impactful people. Thanks so much to @FastCompany for this honor and to all the amazing people who have been part of this journey.
We're proud to announce @FastCompany 's Annual 100 Most Creative People in Business List includes our Stimson Fellow & @38NorthNK producer @j3nnyt0wn chosen from influential leaders across media, tech, design, entertainment & health care.
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We’ll see how this plays out. But it’s disappointing to see more concern about preventing the opposition from contesting a snap presidential election than rectifying an egregious abuse of power by the current president and finding a way for the country to move forward.
(URGENT) Ruling party decides to oppose Yoon impeachment motion, but not to boycott vote
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While the table setting is on another level, the look on KJU's face is what dieting feels like. hehe.
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Pleased to be joining @StimsonCenter and @Stimson_EAsia to carry on @38NorthNK. @Joel_Wit38 @Michael_NKLW @martyn_williams @benjaminkatzeff @CurtisMelvin
38 North is delighted to announce that we will be joining @StimsonCenter under the @Stimson_EAsia program. We look forward to working closely with the Stimson Center to continue to put forward nonpartisan and pragmatic analysis of the Korean peninsula.
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Kind of hard to be urging North Korea to exercise restraint given the current situation.
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US acceptance is not required for the deadline to be real.
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I think it’s clear from the KBS coverage that the liaison office is not salvageable - something that was not clear from the satellite imagery. (KBS news screengrab)
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What commitments?.
John Bolton: "[North Korea has] not lived up to the commitments so far. That's why I think the President thinks another summit is likely to be productive."
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Yes, I did procure this important historical account and look forward to reading it.
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For all the teachers: A lot is happening on the Korean Peninsula these days that it may be difficult to explain/teach/discuss in your classrooms. We partnered with some incredible teachers to create some (middle/high school) classroom materials and lesson plans to help you out!
For teachers: 38 North/Korean War Legacy Foundation/Korea Foundation worked with some exceptional teachers to create free classroom materials, lesson plans & resources about the current situation on the Korean Peninsula for middle/high school levels.
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And then people wonder why South Koreans keep questioning the seriousness of the US commitment to their defense. This is how you engineer decoupling.
Pompeo said the goal of the Trump-Kim summit is to address the North Korean nuclear threat to the United States, not our allies. He said it twice. Abe and Moon, call your office.
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Exactly.
Rep. @AOC to ABC News: "The process of healing is separate and in fact requires accountability. And so if we allow insurrection against the United States with impunity, with no accountability, we are inviting it to happen again . Without it, it will happen again.".
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This is more troubling news than another missile test.
(URGENT) N. Korea says over 18,000 patients confirmed with COVID-19 on Thursday
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I mean, this shouldn't be a surprise - about ICBM component testing or visit to Sohae and hints of a reconnaissance satellite launch. What I want to know is. who is KJU's stylist? And why is he stuck in the 80s?.
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I hate to say it. But it's kind of creepy that there haven't been any statements from high level #DPRK Foreign Ministry officials this week in KCNA. The silence, even after Biegun's speech in Seoul, makes me concerned.
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It’s truly the wrong move - Suppressing democratic freedoms in direct response to a NK ultimatum. Bad optics all around.
SK government makes unprecedented move to file legal complaint against two defector groups and disestablish them. These groups scattered anti-NK leaflets on May 31, sparking NK's national anti-ROK campaign. They were planning to scatter 1 million leaflets on June 25.
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More needs to be done to address the growing attacks against Asian Americans. The “hate” was fueled by government rhetoric - the new admin has an obligation to actively work to address the situation. No thoughts and prayers wanted, need leadership and actions. #StopAsianHate
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Korea for the save!.
(LEAD) ESPN to broadcast S. Korean baseball games
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Don Lemon is spot on, saying the tear gas and bullets against peaceful protesters near the white house was a "made for tv moment" to show violence & chaos as he's speaking. Trump says he wants to protect peaceful protesters - but is essentially invoking martial against them. wtf.
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How has it taken this long for this to become an issue? It has been a recurring theme since his campaign days.
1/ South Korean media reporting growing concerns about the extent of alleged shamanistic and fortune-telling influences within President Yoon's administration, with multiple spiritual advisers allegedly operating at different levels of power.
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It’s hard to believe that Kim Jong Un really expected “sanctions to be lifted in their entirety” just for dismantling Yongbyon. Seems like he would know that’s a nonstarter. Some clarification is needed here.
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Broad commitments. Enormous publicity. Parallels to past agreements/commitments. The question becomes, does the nature of this declaration to this administration mean it will create enough political will to fill in the details or do they chalk it up as a win and move on?
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Korean adoptees on the Olympics stage. Interestingly, last year, the National Immigration Museum in Incheon booted an exhibition about Korean Adoptees, claiming that adoptees are not part of the #KoreanDiaspora. But we refuse to accept this slight
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Solidarity against police brutality - when even the cops know what's happening is wrong.
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I’ve lived a thousand lives. One of them was as a concert flutist and one year as part of a jazz ensemble.
#FunFactFriday: Meet Senior Fellow and Director of @38NorthNK, @j3nnyt0wn. Did you know during her first year she played the flute in Westmar University's jazz ensemble?
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ROK's experience with MERS in 2015 really helped prepare the gov't to be able to respond swiftly to a pandemic, and made the people internalize the danger of epidemics. It seems most Americans have not internalized this threat & our government's mixed messaging isn't helping.
@SenatorMenendez .@j3nnyt0wn: “South Koreans don’t comply with invasive contact tracing because they are Asian, they comply with it because they have been through pandemics before and they understand the severity of the danger." @stimson @38NorthNK.
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This. Take away the platform. There is nothing of value to see here. Only hatred, intimidation, deflection, lies and attempts to stir up conspiracies and violence as a way to stay in power. #NoMoreDebates.
A substantive debate with Donald Trump just isn’t possible.
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Good bye weekends and holidays. It’s been fun.
Kim Jong Un is too smart and has far too much to lose, everything actually, if he acts in a hostile way. He signed a strong Denuclearization Agreement with me in Singapore. He does not want to void his special relationship with the President of the United States or interfere. .
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While we can't comment on #KimJongUn's health or where he might be now, satellite imagery does appear to support claims that he was in Wonsan earlier this week.
Satellite imagery indicates that Kim Jong Un was likely at his Wonsan compound earlier this week. #KimJongUn.
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I remember being in Korea as a sophomore in college and feeling heavy anti-Japanese sentiment stemming from the atrocities of the colonial era. It’s always been surprising how much that had faded in more recent years. It’s not surprising how quickly it can flare back up.
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My thoughts on what #DPRK’s military parade means for diplomacy - essentially, we need to be way more agile to stop a moving train. Thanks @BulletinAtomic for the opportunity to contribute!
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I'm not sure it's so "quiet.".
A Quiet Arms Race Is Rapidly Heating Up Between the Two Koreas
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Wow. Isn't Moon supposed to be a human rights lawyer? Again, not surprised given his track record as president so far, but this really makes Moon look desperate for Kim's approval.
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The fight for our (adoptee) right to reclaim our Korean identity gets a boost.
Korean adoptee wins legal battle to find her biological father in landmark case
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Is that the criteria for sanctions these days?.
It's all personal. / “President Trump likes Chairman Kim and he doesn’t think these sanctions will be necessary.” Sarah Sanders, per pool.
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Satellite imagery of the Inter-Korean Liaison Offices shows the building is still standing. Seems they likely put explosives in one of the top floors. It got a dramatic explosion, but looks like they didn't intend to fully demolish it.
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Great article. Captures the very real pressures on Biegun to succeed while surrounded by enormous skepticism and active resistance to trying too hard.
Scoop: Trump’s North Korea negotiator Steve Biegun is weathering a backlash from hawks inside the Trump administration including John Bolton who want a harder line approach. My latest with @DavidNakamura
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Good approach to the rumors of Kim’s health. “Rumors of Kim Jong Un's ill health abound but facts don't” - Los Angeles Times
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Surprised to see dismantlement activity at the Sohae launch pad. Could have huge implications for #DPRK's willingness to forgo satellite launches, avoiding diplomatic obstacles of the past.
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At some point Trump needs to understand the gravity of his job. This is not reality tv. As POTUS, his words have consequences, even tweets.
(LEAD) N. Korea says Trump's words were declaration of war
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Infrastructure improvements continue at Yongbyon; underscores reason why an actual deal is necessary, not just a statement of lofty goals.
Commercial satellite imagery from June 21 indicates that improvements to the infrastructure at North Korea’s Yongbyon Nuclear Scientific Research Center are continuing at a rapid pace.
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Kim’s reception in a Singapore couldn’t have worked out better for him. He’s definitely “winning” the public relations campaign. These pictures will serve him well to domestic audiences no matter the summit results.
And some photos from last night's outing, courtesy of Korea Central News Agency. One including him being received like a star by the public.
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Warning to all think tanks/think tankers working in the Korea space - this is really important advice to prevent your institutional email address from being spoofed by APT43. We've now seen a third org that was spoofed. The fix is easy - get your IT dept to do it today!!!!!.
APT43 is figuring out when a targeted organization doesn’t have a dmarc policy and is 100 percent leveraging this. When they send a phishing email it will look like it is the real email but the response will go to them.
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Trump's Olympics and war games comments reiterate he measures success based on cost/profitability.
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Really good overview about some methods for trying to assess what's going on in #NorthKorea. Highly recommend.
Where’s #KimJongUn? Experts told us about strategies to track #NorthKorea’s secretive leader. Hint: it involves looking at residences, motorcades, train stations, flights — and of course state broadcasts.
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The current discussion of #KimJongUn's health and what happens in case of his sudden demise is one with no quick/easy answers. @38NorthNK published a series of articles in 2017 on the numerous challenges that could arise in case of instability in #DPRK.
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A cautionary tale for #NorthKorea watchers (and some in adjacent circles) to always check email addresses these days. The phishing campaigns have become very convincing.
North Korean cyber spies deploy new tactic: tricking foreign experts into writing research for them. With experiences from @DanDePetris & @j3nnyt0wn, and insight from @MsftSecIntel & @BAES_Digital
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FYI - 38 North is on the lookout for some talented young professionals interested in North Korea.
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The North’s contempt for the South, especially Seoul’s eagerness to change the mood, comes through loud and clear in Kim Kye Kwan’s statement. As much as they want to get their foot back in the door, Seoul’s continued overstatement of developments has proven counterproductive.
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And where is the tear gas? And clubs that were used against the peaceful protesters??? The double standards here speak volumes.
BREAKING: Trump supporters have breached the Capitol building, tearing down 4 layers of security fencing and are attempting to occupy the building — fighting federal police who are overrun . This is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Thousands, police can’t stop them
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For those thinking #NorthKorea was just upping the ante to re-enter negotiations, this seems to suggest otherwise. Just as declarations about the nuclear program are no longer conditional - this seems to reinforce the nuke program is here to stay.
So, Kim Jong-un just decided to reveal his daughter for the first time publicly at an ICBM launch???
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Day 1 of a new chapter at @StimsonCenter. Joining forces with Yuki Tatsumi and Yun Sun @Stimson_EAsia can only make us stronger. You can trust there will be no manels at Stimson!
It's June 1st, and we are happy to officially be part of the @StimsonCenter! We couldn't be happier with our new home and teammates, and we're excited for the future.
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38 North is hiring - research assistant/associate level. Details coming soon.
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Biegun: "Nothing can be agreed until everything can be agreed." - a losing strategy.
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“Chol” - how many reports from “inside North Korea” has Will made and yet still makes the cardinal sin of covering anything Korea. 🤦🏻♀️ Do better please.
Chol is expected to meet w/ Secretary of State Mike Pompeo & President Donald Trump to finalize preparations for a second summit between Trump and Kim. CNN was first to report Trump wrote a new letter to Kim that was flown to Pyongyang and delivered over the weekend.
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Big welcome to @rachelminyoung1 to the 38 North team!!!.
We are excited to announce the addition of Rachel Minyoung Lee (@rachelminyoung1) as a new Senior Fellow at 38 North. Her extensive experience on #DPRK & Korean Peninsula issues will bring new depth to our research and analysis. A big welcome to her!!!.
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I'm not sure there's much point to announcing this that #DPRK agrees "in principle" to a declaration ending the war, but still has preconditions to negotiating it with the US. This is not new - it is exactly what the North Koreans said a few weeks ago.
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Big news day - our first look at NK centrifuges.
🆕JUST IN: Kim Jong Un inspects North Korea's weapon-grade nuclear materials production base, presented tasks for long-term plan to increase the production of materials.
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Thinking out loud: meeting Trump on short notice w/o a real benefit for showing up is likely unappealing. Kim already left one summit empty handed. A repeat will likely fuel the domestic debate that seems to be going on inside #DPRK between hardliners and pro-diplomacy factions.
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In the lead up to the US-ROK-Japan summit at Camp David, this isn't really a good look. and really illustrates questions about how sustainable ROK-Japan reproachment will be.
Kishida marks 78th anniversary of World War II's end without mentioning Japan's wartime aggression (from @AP)
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This is the problem with reserving negotiations for good behavior: When behavior gets worse, talks then look concessionary.
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Hey all, just a warning that there are several emails going around posing as me and my @38NorthNK staff via stimsons[.]org advertising/inviting folks to an event later this month. Please note, these did NOT from us and our emails do not have an "s" at the end of Stimson.
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I really don't get the fascination with trying to predict when #NorthKorea's next nuclear test will be. How has this been going on for so many months now? The reality is #DPRK does need to do additional testing to achieve the goals that they set. Not just one, but a few.
FYI, we're now past the end of the Oct. 16-Nov. 7 window South Korea's National Intelligence Service had noted as probable for a 7th North Korean nuclear test
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Inter-Korean relations will take a rhetorical shift in May, with Yoon’s election win. But the reality is they soured a while ago, not long after Hanoi. In the meantime, Pyongyang continues to work on meeting its military-related goals - satellites being the current push.
Vann Van Diepen reviews the #DPRK's progress "developing a reconnaissance satellite," which could make technical contributions to its ICBM capability.
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I would argue too that the publicity and recognition Kim has been getting on the global stage is also fueling his confidence. Now that the euphoria of the inter-Korean summit is over and Kim is dealing with the US, he's gonna play tough too. After all, this is a negotiation.
Trump thinks Kim changed his tune after the 2nd mtg with Xi. Kim’s view has been the same for months. The only new thing was Bolton demanding a “Libya” approach to NK disarmament.
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While it’s not hard to believe NK is dealing with COVID, these circumstances sound . suspect.
BREAKING: Kim Jong Un convened an emergency politburo meeting after a “runaway” to South Korea allegedly came back with COVID-19, KCNA reports. Would be the first officially confirmed case in North Korea, which so far has said it had none.
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It’s rare - but 38 North has a mid-career level position open. Here’s what we’re looking for (note: this is our ideal description—although candidates who come close are encouraged to apply too!).
38 North is hiring! If you’re interested in #NorthKorea policy and want to get involved, come join our small but dynamic team. See details here:
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If NK was asking for the lifting of 5 UN sanctions in return for dismantlement of Yongbyon, Trump was right to reject. But they should have known that before they got there.
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Expecting #NorthKorea to make the first move in initiating talks that would put limits on its weapons development while the rest of the region is ramping up doesn't seem very realistic. Seems like we'll need to put something on the table to make that notion at all attractive.
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I doubt it's a coincidence that the 1st Putin-Kim summit is on (almost exactly) the anniversary of the Panmunjom Summit: #KimJongUn's diplomatic debut. I'm sure Moon had grand vision of a N-S event; instead, Kim is in Russia who has actively called for lifting of UNSC sanctions.
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There's so much credit going to Biden for hosting the #CampDavid summit, but the sustainability of trilateral cooperation (US-ROK-Japan) is really centered in Seoul.
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#DPRK is not an embarrassment to China. China has no magic button to solve this b/c the core security threat is between the US and DRPK
Trump on North Korea's unprecedented hydrogen bomb test: They have become great threat and embarrassment to China
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A year+ later, the Biden admin finally sends an Ambassador to Seoul.
The United States Senate just confirmed three U.S. ambassadors headed to countries in the Indo-Pacific:. - Caroline Kennedy to Australia.- Phillip Goldberg to the Republic of Korea.- MaryKay Loss Carlson to the Philippines.
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Wow, now this is odd.
N.K. propaganda outlets delete articles critical of S. Korea en masse
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now the police are firing bullets at the peaceful protest. what is going on????.
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He can’t be serious.
Roger Stone says North Korean boats delivered ballots through Maine harbor as Trump boosts fraud claims
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“Engagement is not surrender or appeasement. Great powers engage. Great powers talk to people. Great powers take responsibility. And that’s what we should be doing with North Korea.” ~ Frmr Sec of Defense Chuck Hagel
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#DPRK spent 2 years building expectations of quick/easy wins but got no sanctions relief or new economic opportunities. Let’s not discount messaging to placate domestic audiences - that the country is still “strong” despite lack of progress.
#NorthKorea blows up #Kaesong to escalate tensions. Will it make SK breach sanctions for the sake of inter-Korean links? No. Does it help Kim Yo-jong domestically? Yes. Does it serve NK to show displeasure with the lack of sanctions relief? Yes. Some goals achieved, others not.
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Had a chance to talk to the folks at @Mandiant about being targeted and being spoofed by #NorthKorea's cyber espionage campaigns and the realities of working on the North Korea policy space these days. It's a good reminder to be vigilant my friends!!!.
cc: @j3nnyt0wn.
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This is sure to be an unpopular take, but this opening statement boasting "decades-long success in preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons" seems rather. selective memory.
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I really think Moon has a credibility problem now with both leaders. He was effective at the beginning but since US-DPRK have built direct communications, his persuasive power is limited. He is also not a neutral party, raising questions of how unfiltered messages passed can be.
With hardliners in Pyongyang and Washington seeming to have the upper hand after the failed summit in Hanoi, it will be up to South Korean President Moon Jae-in to re-energize the diplomatic process, writes @JohnDelury.
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It’s kind of disturbing that now both domestic and foreign policy have become endless reality tv shows.
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