Project
38 North
Cultivating informed public policy debate about North Korea
About the Project
Stimson’s 38North.org is an online policy platform for policy and technical analysis on North Korea and the outsized impact it has on global security. It aims to facilitate an informed debate among experienced and emerging policy analysts and practitioners, especially those with hands-on experience, about North Korea’s internal and external affairs are evolving. It seems to generate innovative ideas and strategies for addressing this complex and growing security dilemma.
Research & Writing
Commentary
Stimson experts weigh in on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s June 8-9 visit to North Korea and its implications for bilateral relations, regional dynamics, and global security more broadly.
June 12, 2026
Commentary
The U.S. president’s outreach to Kim was a commendable effort, but it is unsurprising he returned home without a meeting.
November 3, 2025
Commentary
How will new South Korean President Lee Jae-myung implement his ‘pragmatic’ foreign policy agenda?
June 13, 2025
Explainer
South Korea has become the first nation to pass a comprehensive AI legal framework—how effective will it be?
June 12, 2025
Commentary
South Korea’s newly-elected President Lee Jae-myung will face many geostrategic challenges, including North Korea.
June 10, 2025
Report
Joel Wit assesses the current status of US policy towards North Korea and how to move forward in an increasingly dangerous environment.
May 16, 2025
Commentary
Discussing the domestic and foreign policy implications of the failed vote to impeach South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol following his short-lived declaration of martial law
December 11, 2024
Policy Memo
The Trump administration should define new goals for North Korea and manage the alliance with South Korea
November 20, 2024
Report
Terence Roehrig and David C. Logan examine deterrence dynamics on the Korean Peninsula within the evolving security environment.
October 17, 2024
Report
In this new report, Martyn Williams examines smartphones, the smartphone market, and wireless networks in North Korea.
September 26, 2024
Commentary
Following his appointment as South Korea’s new defense minister, this profile provides an overview of Kim Yong-hyun’s background and key positions.
September 10, 2024
Commentary
Using GEOINT analysis, this article examines the uptick in activity at North Korea’s Kaesong Industrial Complex.
September 4, 2024
Commentary
South Korea’s defense industry growth signifies opportunities for increased security independence, but is unlikely to shake up the country’s military partnership with the US
August 19, 2024
Project Note
38 North is excited to welcome our inaugural 2024-2025 cohort for our Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program. Read more about the fellows below
July 2, 2024
Commentary
Stimson experts weigh in on the recent China-Japan-South Korea Ninth Trilateral Summit and what it means for Northeast Asia.
May 31, 2024
Video
38 North Senior Fellow Martyn Williams details how a North Korean Internet server’s contents and workflow underscore the growing challenge foreign companies face verifying outsourced work.
April 23, 2024
Project Note
Emerging Scholars Fellowship Program for young professionals and scholars interested in North Korea
April 22, 2024
Feature
An inside look at the world of North Korean animation outsourcing and how foreign companies might be inadvertently employing North Korean companies.
April 22, 2024
Commentary
Following the South Korean general elections on April 10, James Kim evaluates the results and the outlook moving forward.
April 19, 2024
Policy Paper
Examining North Korea’s digital surveillance capabilities, how they have developed, and worrying trends for the future.
April 16, 2024
Commentary
This primer provides an overview of South Korea’s upcoming legislative elections, the key players involved and what’s at stake.
April 4, 2024
Commentary
Relying on deterrence and reminding the North of the overwhelming power of the United States and its allies has not had the desired effect.
April 3, 2024
Commentary
With the South Korea general election coming up on April 10, James Kim discusses the potential outcomes and their implications.
April 1, 2024
Commentary
Amid deepening ties between Russia and North Korea, examining the implications of the Russia-Ukraine war on North Korea’s foreign policy.
February 22, 2024
Commentary
As the Russia-Ukraine war enters its third year, this piece explores South Korea’s approach to Ukraine and its options moving forward.
February 22, 2024
Commentary
Using GEOINT analysis, this article shows the completion of North Korea’s Hwangju-Kindung Waterway, which was officially declared operational in December 2023.
February 15, 2024
Commentary
38 North’s report examines how North Korea’s economic policy decisions are made and rolled out under Kim Jong Un.
February 12, 2024
Resource
As 2023 comes to a close, this list highlights a few key issues and developments covered by 38 North.
December 20, 2023
Commentary
38 North’s report examines North Korea’s current energy security challenges and explores potential clean energy and sustainability solutions.
December 14, 2023
Commentary
Ruediger Frank explores how embassy closures tie into DPRK’s strategy shift from managing risks to avoiding them, and their implications
December 13, 2023
Commentary
Following North Korea’s satellite launch on November 21, Vann Van Diepen discusses the reconnaissance satellite’s development and potential impacts.
November 28, 2023
Commentary
Dr. Samuel Ramani examines North Korea’s support for militant non-state actors in the Middle East, including its links with Hamas.
October 24, 2023
Testimony
Senior Fellow and 38 North Program Director Jenny Town called to testify before the Senate Subcommittee on East Asia, The Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.
October 6, 2023
Commentary
With North Korean efforts to increase the availability of protein sources, this piece looks at the expansion status and challenges.
September 22, 2023
Commentary
Following Kim Jong Un’s visit to Russia, Distinguished Fellow Joel Wit and Dr. Siegfried Hecker discuss changes in Russia-DPRK relations as their nuclear ties deepen.
September 21, 2023
Commentary
Vann Van Diepen reviews six key takeaways from North Korea’s rollout of the “tactical nuclear attack submarine” announced on September 8
September 11, 2023
Commentary
Despite North Korea’s potential in wind and tidal power development and generation, little notable progress has been made.
August 14, 2023
Report
Mats Engman and Frida Lampinen highlight a risk management framework that reaches beyond traditional security measures on the Korean Peninsula.
July 27, 2023
Commentary
DPRK defector interviews, state media and satellite imagery point to an uptick in personal solar installations as citizens adopt a “do-it-yourself” attitude.
May 12, 2023
Commentary
Researchers Robert Carlin and Rachel Minyoung Lee wrap up the “Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking” project by highlighting key findings and implications.
February 23, 2023
Commentary
Unpacking how North Korean economic journals use the topic of Juche (self-reliance) to build the case for broadening, rather than limiting, foreign trade.
February 16, 2023
Commentary
Examining North Korean internal discussions related to foreign trade and the sensitivities involved in trading with capitalist countries.
February 6, 2023
Commentary
As North Korea begins to loosen its pandemic restrictions, assessing the current status of major tourism projects may provide some indication of its near-term expectations for resuming tourism.
January 25, 2023
Commentary
Our study on North Korea’s economic policymaking continues, with an examination of the internal push and pull of embracing economic development zones (EDZs).
December 21, 2022
Resource
Nonresident Fellow Rachel Minyoung Lee has translated articles from key economic journals, informing research conducted by Ms. Lee and Nonresident Fellow Robert Carlin.
December 20, 2022
Commentary
Assessing the status and role of cellphones and communication in North Korea since this technology was introduced.
November 15, 2022
Policy Paper
As North Korea’s WMD capabilities evolve, the US and South Korea must adapt their extended deterrence arrangement.
September 20, 2022
Commentary
Without substantive investments, such as developing better transport networks or improving energy provision, North Korea’s Komdok mining region will remain underperforming.
August 17, 2022
Commentary
The second year of our Understanding Kim Jong Un’s Economic Policymaking project continues with a focus on North Korea’s tourism industry.
July 26, 2022
Policy Paper
The history and evolution of the US-ROK military command architecture reveal the inherent push and pull at the heart of the alliance.
June 21, 2022
Recent Publications
Events
Load More