February 24, 2017
Beyond palace intrigue: How North Korea's antics threaten US interests
Last week in Malaysia, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un’s estranged half brother was assassinated in shockingly public fashion.
Apparently poisoned by two young women as he walked through Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Kim Jong-nam’s death appears to be the latest example of his tyrannical brother’s enthusiasm for violence that is both bizarre and cruel.
Yet Kim Jong-un’s murderous antics are not merely palace intrigue; his brother’s death is the latest in an effort to cleanse the North Korean government of people with whom the international community could quietly communicate, or even exert influence. Kim Jong-un is ruthlessly isolating himself and his government from the outside world — and in so doing, further deepening the threat faced by the United States and its allies.
Read the full article at The Hill.
More from CNAS
-
What Can the US Expect From Sri Lanka’s New President?
Commentary
Washington views Sri Lanka as a “lynchpin” of its Indo-Pacific strategy and seeks a partner committed to strengthening the democratic process and economic governance while pro...
By Keerthi Martyn
-
On Alliances in Northeast Asia
Commentary
For the U.S. alliances with South Korea and Japan to thrive — or merely survive — under the next administration, policy makers need to consider different options for different...
By Dr. Duyeon Kim
-
The China-Russia Entente in East Asia
Reports
Executive Summary Closer cooperation between China and Russia is a major force driving global geopolitics. But how relations between the two authoritarian powers are shaping s...
By Jacob Stokes, Evan Wright & Nathaniel Schochet
-
Do ‘good rebels’ exist in Myanmar?
Commentary
Myanmar is experiencing unprecedented levels of conflict between the military junta, or Tatmadaw, and increasingly collaborative ethnic armed organisations (EAOs). In the past...
By Rowan Scarpino & Nathaniel Schochet
