Articles by Atsuhito Isozaki

Does socialist North Korea have any friends left?

As Pyongyang leans ever closer to Moscow, its relations with China and other socialist states remain strained. With sanctions, nuclear tensions and diverging interests, North Korea’s circle of friends is narrowing fast. Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki gives his analysis.

Atsuhito Isozaki

03 Feb 2026

Eyes on the great powers: How North Korea navigates China, Russia and the US

Kim Jong Un zeroes in on China, Russia and the US, balancing alliances and flexing nuclear power as he shapes North Korea’s future on the global stage. Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki examines the possibilities.

Atsuhito Isozaki

25 Sep 2025

Moscow’s backing fuels North Korea’s wartime boom

The ongoing war in Ukraine has strengthened the relationship between Russia and North Korea, resulting in various benefits for North Korea, including economic growth, military advancements, and improved equipment. Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki looks at how North Korea is gaining.

Atsuhito Isozaki

27 May 2025

Is North Korea preparing for a diplomatic offensive under Kim Jong Un?

North Korea’s reshuffle hints at a diplomatic shift, as Kim Jong Un eyes stronger Russia ties and monitors Trump’s re-election with minimal comment, Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki analyses.

Atsuhito Isozaki

11 Feb 2025

Kim Jong Un is promoting tourism, but who are the tourists?

Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki notes that Kim Jong Un is promoting tourism for revenue, but attracting big spenders from China may be challenging, and most North Koreans lack funds for domestic tourism.

Atsuhito Isozaki

13 Aug 2024

North Korea is a lonely country, even among ‘friends’

Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki explains why China and North Korea share less common ground than what is usually proclaimed in public statements. For that matter, North Korea’s plans of deepening relations with other socialist countries might be a tall order.

Atsuhito Isozaki

07 May 2024

Why Kim Jong-un's first trip after the pandemic was not to China, but Russia

The solidarity between North Korea and Russia based on an "anti-imperialist" or anti-American mindset can be said to be a strategic and simple construct: "An enemy's friend is an enemy."

Atsuhito Isozaki

15 Sep 2023

North Korea's failed launch of Kim Jong-un's 'No. 1' spy satellite

Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki examines North Korea's failed military reconnaissance satellite launch, noting how domestic media handled it quietly this time as compared to another failed launch in 2012. How is Kim Jong-un's regime evolving?

Atsuhito Isozaki

27 Jun 2023

A China-North Korea summit may be good for the world

It appears that China and North Korea are in a renewed honeymoon phase, with a possible China-North Korea summit on the cards. This may not necessarily be all bad, says Japanese academic Atsuhito Isozaki.

Atsuhito Isozaki

20 Apr 2023

North Korea demonstrating superiority of regime through epidemic control

Lockdown state, zero Chinese tourists, zero infected case... Keio University's Atsuhito Isozaki notes that for health and political reasons, North Korea is treating the possible outbreak of Covid-19 as a matter of "national survival". In the immediate, however, rising prices brought on by disruptions in supply are a key threat.

Atsuhito Isozaki

02 Mar 2020