Topic: Korea Institute for Defense Analyses

Why Iranian engineers attended North Korea's failed rocket launch

Iranian rocket specialists were at the launch of North Korea's failed rocket test last week, according to South Korean reports. North Korea and Iran have long cooperated on long-range missiles.

North Korea declares food-for-nukes deal over

Citing the United States' postponement of delivery of food aid, North Korea says that it is no longer obligated to hold off on nuclear development.

North Korea drama: Where are Kim Jong-un's brothers?

Conspicuously absent from all images coming out of North Korea are Kim Jong-il's two other sons.

Sympathy? Condolences? South Korea weighs response to Kim Jong-il's death.

Kim Jong-il vowed to turn Seoul into a 'sea of flames.' Not surprisingly, expressions of condolences on his death have been a subject of debate in South Korea. 

South Korea shooting mishap highlights heightened tensions with North

South Korean marines mistakenly fired on a passenger jet owned by Asiana Airlines on Friday. They thought it was a North Korean fighter jet.

North Korea walks out of talks. Is it setting the stage for more nuclear tests?

After walking out of a meeting meant as a preliminary step toward six-party nuclear talks, some worry North Korea may stage another nuclear test. Its first test came during a break in six-party talks in 2006.

South Korea set to try captured Somali pirates

Five Somali pirates flown Sunday to South Korea are blaming the hijacking of the Samho Jewelry tanker on eight other pirates who were killed when South Korean navy seals rescued the vessel and its 21 crew members on Jan. 21.

On North Korea, the US and South Korea are united

Following President Obama's State of the Union message, in which he insisted 'North Korea keeps its commitment to abandon nuclear weapons,' South Korea and the US are showing a united front on North Korea.

Why South Korea has agreed to six-party talks on North Korea's nuclear program

Analysts in South Korea believe President Lee’s surprise call for six-party talks will bring the parties to the table since China and North Korea have both been calling in recent weeks for resumption of talks.

US, South Korea skeptical of North Korea's nuclear offer

US envoy Bill Richardson said its offer to allow nuclear inspections was a 'step in the right direction.' But the US and the South note a 'string of broken promises.'

US, South Korea eye shift in rules of engagement on North Korea

Seoul's top general and US Adm. Mike Mullen did not formally announce a shift in rules of engagement. But South Korean analysts believe they are shaping the first possible strategy shift since the Korean War.

Disillusioned South Korea weighs response to North Korean flare-up

South Korea's President Lee Myung-bak made a tough-sounding speech today, but his critics say it comes too late. US and South Korean warships engaged in 'high-intensity' war games while NKorea makes new threats.

Kim Jong-un confirmed North Korean heir ahead of massive military parade

Kim Jong-un is expected to appear alongside his father, Kim Jong-il, at the military parade, marking another major step in his emergence.

North Korea's new dawn with Kim Jong-un

An heir to the North Korean dictatorship is anointed, and begins his rise. Where will Kim Jong-un lead his nation?

North Korea's Kim Jong-il cements 'military first' stand with key appointments

North Korea's Kim Jong-il gave son Kim Jong-un a military as well as a political role. The emphasis on military appointments in the politburo fortifies the 'military-first policy.'

5 key people to watch in North Korea

The struggle to name a successor to North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il appears likely to climax in a historic conference next week.

The conference, the first in 44 years, is slated for Sept. 28. Debate among North Korea’s leaders over anointment of Mr. Kim’s third son, Kim Jong-un, is widely believed to have delayed the meeting.

Just because delegates will be gathering for the conference is no guarantee that it will end in announcement of a leadership lineup. Whatever the outcome, it is certain to provide fodder for speculation about the future of North Korea after Kim leaves the scene.

As North Korea heads into this meeting, here is a good idea of who might be in positions of power after Kim Jong-il steps down:

North Korean plane crash in China is shrouded in mystery

North Korean plane crash in China has experts wondering what happened: Soldiers have defected amid food shortages, but pilot defections have been extremely rare.

South Korea keeps wary eye on North Korea during war games

North Korea has refrained so far from retaliating against the ongoing US-South Korea war games. Analysts say the North may try a long-range missile test toward the United States or Japan.

USS George Washington, S. Korea military drills send mixed signals to North Korea

The United States is getting tough on North Korea by conducting military drills using the USS George Washington with South Korea next week.

North Korea meets with US as food shortages hammer North

Amnesty International's report on the poor state of health care in North Korea may be a contributing factor in why North Korea accepted a UN proposal for leaders to meet face-to-face.

North Korea: New clues about who will replace Kim Jong-il

In a rare meeting of parliament Monday, North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il increased the political influence of his brother-in law. The move is seen as supporting the leader's heir apparent – his youngest son – and curbing any power plays within the military.

How will North Korea respond to South Korea's threats?

A third nuclear test and naval confrontations in the Yellow Sea are likely, say analysts, in response to South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's announcement Monday of retaliatory measures against North Korea for torpedoing the navy ship Cheonan.

South Korea Cheonan warship sinking: Diver dies during rescue efforts

Strong currents frustrated rescue efforts for 46 sailors thought to be trapped on the sunken South Korea Cheonan warship, dimming their hopes for survival.  

South Korea's Cheonan ship sinking mystery: A North Korea mine?

North Korea may have planted an underwater mine to make South Korea's Cheonan ship sink last Friday, the defense minister said. Or an old mine may have been left from the Korean war.

South Korea pushes to recycle nuclear power plant fuel

As a growing nuclear power plant builder and exporter, South Korea wants to reprocess nuclear fuel. That's counter to a US deal.