Christy Lee

China's Mekong River Dams Expected to Worsen Southeast Asian Economies During Drought

A severe drought exacerbated by China's Mekong River dams withholding water upstream is expected to affect economic activities of southeastern countries downstream

Experts: North Korea’s Purge of Top Official Shows Loyalty May Be Insufficient

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s purge of former Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho may have jolted diplomats in Pyongyang into realizing devotion may not be enough

Experts: North Korea's ICBMs Pose Preemption Challenges for US

The ability of the US to preemptively destroy North Korea's Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missiles could be curtailed if the regime uses liquid-fueled engines to propel the missiles

Experts: China Unlikely to Sway North Korea on Missile, Nuclear Tests

China sees dissuading Pyongyang from its weapons program as helping the U.S., its strategic competitor, experts say

Experts: Regarding North Korea, US Must Shift Focus From Denuclearization to Deterrence

Washington has exhausted options to denuclearize North Korea and now must prioritize preventing it from attacking U.S., allies, experts say

Normalizing US-North Korea Ties Before Denuclearization Seen as Unrealistic

Seoul wants to see Washington and Pyongyang normalize their relations before North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons, but experts say neither party would pursue that path

Yoon's Approach to North Korea Lacks Initial Strategy on Human Rights

South Korean president's plan designed to incentivize Pyongyang's denuclearization will eventually need to address human rights, experts say

South Korean Rights Envoy Calls for Global Cooperation on North Korea 

Lee Shin-hwa says improving human rights in North Korea is a matter of 'survival' for those living under the Kim regime 

Experts: Seoul, Tokyo Maintain Ties Despite Possible Japanese Military Expansion

Modernization of Japan's forces would support Washington's effort to bolster trilateral ties with South Korea and Japan, analysts say

What to Expect From South Korea's First NATO Summit

President Yoon Suk Yeol is the first South Korean leader to attend the NATO summit and his presence will underscore his pledge to expand Seoul's global reach to involve dealing with threats from China, Russia and North Korea

North Korea COVID-19 Vaccination Plan Facing Challenges

North Korea may have opted out of conducting a country-wide COVID-19 vaccination due to medical and technical hurdles involved in a massive immunization program

How Should US Respond to a North Korean Nuclear Test? 

In such a case, US must reinforce South Korean defenses, sanction Chinese, Russian entities supporting Pyongyang's weapons program, experts say 

South Korea's Alignment With US at Odds With China, Analysts Say

Beijing likely to escalate tension with Seoul, whose policies align with US efforts to curb Chinese expansion in Indo-Pacific region

Biden, Yoon Embrace Policy of North Korea Denuclearization Backed by Deterrence, Not Concessions

Ukraine Crisis Prompts Fears of North Korean Challenge to US-Seoul Alliance 

Experts say North Korea may see an opportunity to pursue its long-term goal of breaking South Korea’s alliance with the US 

North Korea Turns to Crypto Theft to Fund Weapons Programs

Pyongyang’s hackers are exploiting a major loophole in cryptocurrency exchange regulations to steal millions of dollars to fund its nuclear weapons and missile programs.

Analysis: Should Biden Adopt Trump’s Top-Down Approach to North Korea? 

After more than two years of stalled denuclearization talks with North Korea, some experts are wondering if Trump-style personal diplomacy might be the way to reengage Kim Jong Un. 

North Korea’s Saber-Rattling Rekindles Nuclear Test Site Questions

Pyongyang demolished tunnels at the nuclear test facility in May 2018 as invited foreign journalists watched the detonation.

Analysis: Why North Korea’s Hypersonic Missile Test Is Troubling

Missile defense expert said the missiles have capabilities that leave South Korea with few options.

Experts See North Korea Shunning Nuclear Talks as Economic Crisis Deepens

Recent speech by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that made no mention of the US or South Korea went unreported by official media.