Articles by Kang Jun-Young

Seoul’s Global South turn: A blueprint for a fractured world

As US-China tensions fracture the globe, South Korea is carving out a third way. By acting as a “bridge of trust”, South Korea aims to turn solidarity with the Global South into a vital survival strategy, opines South Korean academic Kang Jun-young.

Kang Jun-young

21 Apr 2026

Exploited and abandoned: North Korean troops in Ukraine

As the war in Ukraine drags on, one group seems to be overlooked: the North Korean soldiers who have apparently been sent to fight without knowledge or consent. South Korean academic Kang Jun-young says the international community cannot ignore their situation.

Kang Jun-young

19 Mar 2025

North Korea’s only hope: reform and opening up

North Korea desperately needs to modernise and open up, argues South Korean academic Kang Jun-young. According to Kang, Kim Jong Un should take a leaf out of China’s book and introduce political and economic reforms, or learn from Vietnam’s open-door approach. Only then will North Korea be able to achieve economic development and maintain power. 

Kang Jun-young

02 Jan 2025

Execution for spreading South Korean-style content? Why North Korea’s human rights issues cannot be ignored 

Not only are North Korea’s nuclear and missile threat to the Korean peninsula, but its human rights issues are also a part of security issues in the region, says academic Kang Jun-young.

Kang Jun-young

08 Oct 2024

North Korea’s seventh nuclear test could end in tragedy

Strengthened Russia-North Korea relations could spell disaster for the region, especially if North Korea is bold enough to conduct another nuclear test, says academic Kang Jun-young.

Kang Jun-young

04 Jul 2024

Plight of North Korean defectors in China sparks urgent humanitarian concerns

Academic Kang Jun-young notes that due to the North Korea factor, the diplomatic relations between South Korea and China are inherently unique, and it is difficult for both sides to make breakthroughs in their discussions on North Korea. Yet the universal value of human rights pertaining to North Korean defectors in China is not a matter that will resolve itself by both countries mutually avoiding it.

Kang Jun-young

07 Jun 2024

South Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit: Self-interest biggest hurdle to cooperation 

Academic Kang Jun-young explains why, while the resumption of the South Korea-Japan-China trilateral summit at the end of this month is a positive development, obstacles stand in the way of the three countries working together on common issues affecting them and the region.

Kang Jun-young

14 May 2024

The world will see a more provocative North Korea

Academic Kang Jun-young examines the recent rhetoric by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, especially comments relating to the prospect of nuclear war. How likely is that, and how will continuing US-China tensions and upheavals in this year of elections around the world affect the stability of the Korean peninsula?

Kang Jun-young

09 Jan 2024

South Korean academic: China must not join the North Korea-Russia alliance

South Korean academic Kang Jun-young notes that North Korea's recent inclusion of its nuclear weapons policy into its constitution - coupled with its friendliness with Russia - is making the region nervous, and can only raise doubts among its neighbours, including China. However, he cautions against overreacting, as that would in turn escalate the situation further.

Kang Jun-young

11 Oct 2023

China needs to change its understanding of South Korea's stand

With South Korea working on bilateral and multilateral international relations, especially with the US and Japan, it is perhaps unsurprising that China is not quite at ease with South Korea's stand. Recent comments by Chinese ambassador to South Korea Xing Haiming implying that South Korea's pro-US stance will not lead to a good outcome has raised hackles in South Korea. Academic Kang Jun-young tells us more.

Kang Jun-young

31 Jul 2023

China can do more on the North Korean nuclear issue

With North Korea declaring itself a nuclear state and indicating that it would only enter negotiations in its position as one, the situation in the Korean peninsula is getting more unstable. Among the global stakeholders in the issue, China is in a position to do more. Trilateral cooperation between the US, South Korea and China is even possible if China changes its perceptions and long-held approaches.

Kang Jun-young

04 May 2023

South Korea's new president needs to avoid predecessor's mistakes and reframe foreign policy priorities

South Korean academic Kang Jun-young notes that the incoming Yoon Seok-youl administration in South Korea will have to rectify several diplomatic missteps of the previous administration, including by restoring ties with Japan and adjusting its policies towards China and the US, while dealing with the nuclear issue with North Korea. Will Yoon's administration be able to juggle all this while maintaining its national dignity and not giving in to external pressure?

Kang Jun-young

29 Mar 2022