KoreaTimes - Columnists

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Entertainment & Arts

SCMP
Asia

The Korea Times

Opinion

Columnists

Andrei Lankov

NK is no Stalinist country

North Korea is often described as the ``world’s last Stalinist country.” This description has become a cliché but it is misleading: North Korea might keep up outward appearances as a Stalinist regime, but for all practical purposes its society and economy have moved far away from the patterns once pioneered by Joseph Stalin and his henchmen.

2011-10-09 17:33

Russia-N. Korea Trade

In mid-August, the armored train of the “Dear Leader,” Marshall Kim Jong-il once again crossed the Russian border. This time, he did not venture far: the summit took place in the city of Ulan-Ude. Among other things, the summit produced a statement about a gas pipeline which is to go through the North to reach the South.

2011-09-25 17:48

Mathematics ― a la North Korea

Mathematics is the most abstract of all sciences. It is as free as possible from dirty (and/or lofty) political passions and human emotions ― at least this is what most people believe.

2011-08-28 17:25

A society of numbers

Anybody who has ever dealt with North Korean officials or documents is aware that the nation’s bureaucracy loves number-based names and titles.

2011-08-14 17:10

A peek in Rodong Shinmun

It is not that difficult to find the most representative North Korean newspaper. Everybody knows that such role has been reserved for the Rodong Shinmun, the ruling Korean Worker’s Party’s mouthpiece. This is not just a humble newspaper, but the voice of the party and state itself.

2011-07-31 17:13

Perception of unification

If you ask the average South Korean man or woman what they think of unification, the answer is highly predictable. Every patriotic Korean (well, indeed, every Korean) is supposed to say that unification should be the major political goal.

2011-07-17 17:07

Special economic zones

In early June it was officially declared that North Korea is opening two special economic zones (SEZs) on its border with China.

2011-07-03 17:19

Comparison of NK and USSR

The present author was born in the former Soviet Union and is frequently asked which period of Soviet history the current North Korea is reminiscent of?

2011-06-20 17:17

Uneasy quietness on peninsula

Early this year, this author was quite anxious about the future of South-North Korean relations and, frankly, even about the future of peace on the Korean Peninsula. The situation was clearly moving in the wrong direction, so for the first time in decades, an escalation into a full-scale war appeared possible (albeit clearly avoidable).

Jong-eun2011-06-05 17:10

Still repressive, but easing

A recent report by Amnesty International has said that the number of prisoners in North Korea has increased considerably. The report says that roughly 200,000 North Koreans are now incarcerated for political crimes (either committed by themselves or by their immediate family members). The report also states the area of the prisons camps in the North has increased.

Jong-eun2011-05-22 15:55

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

Top 10 Stories

1	Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape

2	Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan

3	Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era

4	Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate

5	North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon

6	Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week

7	What's next for Do Kwon?

8	Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president

9	Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek

10	More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism

DARKROOM