NK Report

Only at MHI-NK News: North Koreans granted “simplified” visa entry to Russia via Vladivostok, By Dagyum Ji DPRK citizens are among nationals of 18 countries now allowed free entry Far East region New South Korean unilateral sanctions: What are Moon’s options? By Chad O’Carroll Seoul has only a few options left if it wants to increase pressure on Pyongyang What Moscow wants: Russia’s vision for North Korea’s future, By Tristan Webb The Kremlin is a pivotal, yet ultimately passive power, when it comes to peninsula issues U.S. to exempt journalists, aid workers from N. Korea travel ban, By Leo Byrne The restrictions will begin on September 1 and last for one year North Korean company launches FIFA-style soccer simulation game, By Dagyum Ji “Soccer Fierce Battle” is one of a range of new DPRK-produced video games released this year U.S. is not North Korea’s enemy: Tillerson, By Leo Byrne Secretary of State says Washington does not seek regime change New U.S. sanctions against the DPRK: A North Korean perspective, By Kim Kwang Hak  MFA researcher argues that aim of U.S. measures is regime change, not denuclearization

Top MHI-NK Stories from around the web: It’s Time To Play Good Cop, Bad Cop With Pyongyang (Foreign Policy) Washington and Seoul can use their differences to challenge a dangerously ambitious North Korea. “The allies should also devise the right mix of tools to bring Pyongyang to the negotiating table while maintaining credible pressure underpinned by a strong defense posture and effective sanctions….” Another reason North Korea can’t hit the US with nukes (yet) (The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists) Pyongyang has not yet mastered miniaturization and “while it has conducted five nuclear tests and may have enough fissile material to make 20 nuclear weapons, it can’t make one small enough to fit on a missile that would carry it as far as Seattle….” N. Korea rejects joint civilian event to mark Korea’s Liberation Day (Yonhap News) North Korea has rejected a South Korean civic group’s proposal for a joint event to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s colonial rule in August, the group said Wednesday… Propaganda in the age of Kim Jong-Un: A discussion with Professor B.R. Myers (Free Korea U.S.) Stanton and Myers discuss the effectiveness of propaganda, Kim Jong Un, and the Arab Spring. “A few weeks ago, a commenter at my blog cited your work as evidence that North Koreans probably still believe in their political system. That raises several questions: first, do North Koreans believe in their political ideology; second, do they believe in Kim Jong Un…” North Korea’s Trade and the KOTRA Report (PIIE) KOTRA data confirm that North Korea’s trade story is all about China, and a few other countries. “[The report] provides the service of imputing figures for Chinese crude oil exports to North Korea, which China Customs inexplicably ceased reporting in 2014. KOTRA holds the volume constant in 2016 at 525 thousand tons and due to the downturn in the global price of oil…”