Business Monitor Online has recently published two new analyses on North East Asia. China: With the economy heading towards a ‘hard landing’, we believe it will become increasingly difficult for the central government to report strong growth figures. While the headline GDP figure is as much a political issue as an economic one, a greater… [Read more]
North Korea’s artillery attack on the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong in the hotly disputed maritime border region is a provocative move to say the least. Although North and South have clashed at sea before, most notably resulting in the sinking of the Southern warship Cheonan in March, and have exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarised… [Read more]
North Korea’s succession drama has officially kicked off, with ailing leader Kim Jong Il, 68, appointing his 26- or 27-year old third son, Kim Jong Un, to the rank of General. Bizarrely, also promoted to General was Kim Jong Il’s 64-year old sister Kim Kyong Hui. Neither of them have any military experience, so the… [Read more]
One thing which I believe is becoming increasingly likely is a third nuclear test by North Korea. Last May, when North Korea tested its second nuke, I suggested that the entire nuclear dispute had taken on the feeling of one too many a season of ‘24’ – i.e. it had lost the ability to shock… [Read more]