Jenny Town
@jennytown.bsky.social
Korea specialist | Senior Fellow, Stimson Center | Co-founder & Director, 38 North | Director, Korea Program | Associate Fellow of SAIS Foreign Policy Institute www.38North.org
N. Korea blasts S. Korea, U.S. for 'abusing' ASEAN meetings to pursue its denuclearization | Yonhap News Agency en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2026...
N. Korea blasts S. Korea, U.S. for 'abusing' ASEAN meetings to pursue its denuclearization | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, July 24 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday accused South Korea, the United States an...
en.yna.co.kr
-Anyone who had considered combat w Iran knew its first move would be closing strait. Second move, attack US allies/bases in region -Anyone who studied air war knew bombing alone doesn't capture territory -Anyone who observed Ukraine (or Vietnam!) knew about "asymmetrical advantage" And yet...
Pyunghwa Park and Uri Kidron examine how the varied willingness of states facing a regional nuclearizing rival to absorb the costs of war as a counterproliferation strategy has played into North Korea's nuclear advancements versus Iran's restraints. www.38north.org/2026/06/why-...
Why North Korea Got the Bomb (And Iran Did Not, for Now) - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
Why did North Korea get nuclear weapons when other states with similar nuclear ambitions like ...
38north.org
While the outcomes of the Xi-Kim summit may seem a bit underwhelming, flashy outcomes weren't necessarily the point of this diplomatic showing for either Kim or Xi. Check out these short takes from myself and some of my talented colleagues from 38 North and the Stimson Center.
38 North@38north.org · 2mo agoCheck out a few perspectives about the Xi-Kim summit from 38 North and Stimson Center experts. Short takes from @jennytown.bsky.social, Rachel Minyoung Lee, James Kim, Michael Cunningham, and Andrew Oros. bit.ly/43tagHf
ICYMI: France 24's The Debate on North Korea, China, and Russia @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social joined @france24.com's The Debate alongside Claudia Astarita, @jennytown.bsky.social, and Philippe Le Corre. Moderated by @francoisf24.bsky.social. Watch it here:
Unbreakable Kim? China's Xi visits Russia-backed North Korean leader • FRANCE 24 English
It takes convincing these days to get China's leader to go abroad. Xi Jinping has just wrapped up what was only his first foreign visit of 2026. Why Pyongyang? It's hard to deduce from official…
youtube.com
🎥 REPLAY AVAILABLE In this timely conversation, I sit down with Jenny Town @jennytown.bsky.social, one of the world's foremost North Korea experts, to explore Pyongyang's evolving role in international affairs and its growing significance in a changing global order www.youtube.com/live/PZLOMkM...
North Korea and the New World Order: Whats is Pyongyang’s Role in Today’s International Affairs?
YouTube video by Dr Lokman Karadag
youtube.com
North Korea's Sinpo-B class (Gorae-class) ballistic missile submarine appears to have been moved to the dry dock at the Sinpo South Shipyard, likely for maintenance; while the cargo vessel is now fully inside the construction hall. Analysis by @jennytown.bsky.social . www.38north.org/2026/04/quic...
Quick Take: North Korea’s Sinpo-B Class Submarine Drydocked - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
On commercial satellite imagery of North Korea’s Sinpho South Shipyard, it appears that the ...
38north.org
Middle East oil shipping costs surge to all-time high as US-Iran conflict intensifies reut.rs/4bkdDF1
Middle East oil shipping costs surge to all-time high as US-Iran conflict intensifies
The cost of hiring a supertanker to ship oil from the Middle East to China surged to an all-time high of over $400,000 a day as the U.S.-Iran conflict intensifies with Tehran targeting ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, LSEG data showed.
reut.rs
There’s obviously a lot going on right now but this is not the time to fall asleep on North Korea. They have proven themselves a useful military partner as the big powers have become more prone to use of force. There is opportunity for NK in that equation. Worth examining their evolving calculus.
38 North@38north.org · 5mo agoReminder: Join us tomorrow (March 3) at 9:30AM ET to examine key themes from North Korea's 9th Party Congress and implications for DPRK priorities going forward. Featuring Rachel Minyoung Lee, Michael Madden & Vann Van Diepen, moderated by @jennytown.bsky.social. www.38north.org/events/north...
The US is carrying out strikes on Iran, two US officials tell CNN. Follow live updates: https://cnn.it/4rFzzQF
Israel's operation against Iran was coordinated with US, Israeli official says reut.rs/4qVoObP
Israel's operation against Iran was coordinated with US, Israeli official says
The Israeli operation against Iran on Saturday was coordinated with the U.S., an Israeli defence official told Reuters.
reut.rs
North Korea is watching US escalation toward Venezuela, notes Rachel Minyoung Lee. This kind of "interference" echoes previous US regime change operations toward Iraq and Libya, reinforcing North Korea's conviction about its own nuclear deterrent. www.38north.org/2025/11/quic...
Quick Take: North Korea on US-Venezuela Tensions - 38 North: Informed Analysis of North Korea
How does North Korea view the Trump administration’s escalation of pressure on Venezuela’s ...
38north.org
China has been restrained to the announcement re: South Korea's pursuit of a nuclear-powered subs. LEU vs. HEU fueled reactors and building good relations with Lee factor into that approach. But given the implications of where US-ROK relations are headed, can this restraint last?
38 North@38north.org · 9mo agoQuestions abound about how US-ROK cooperation will look on South Korea's pursuit of nuclear-powered subs and how China and other regional actors might respond. Yun Sun explains the mild reaction from Beijing so far, but with caveats. www.38north.org/2025/11/sout...
🚨EVENT: Join us on Wed. Oct 8 from 1-2:30 PM ET for a deep dive into information access and information freedom in North Korea. Featuring Rohit Mahajan, @martynw.bsky.social, Hannah Oh & @jennytown.bsky.social.
Investing in the North Korean People: Broadening Access to Information in North Korea • Stimson Center
The event will discuss the current status of information access and freedom in North Korea, first-hand accounts of effective models for information dissemination, and challenges faced by the sector. S...
stimson.org
The optics couldn't be better for Kim Jong Un at his first time attending a multilateral event. Front and center with Xi and Putin, with South Korea trailing far in background.
Martyn Williams@martynw.bsky.social · 11mo agoJust In: Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin appear to share a discussion alongside Xi Jinping as they enter the viewing area for China's Victory Day parade. Kim and Putin were at the head of the group of foreign leaders.
At meeting rich in symbolism, Ishiba and South Korea\'s Lee agree to steadily build ties www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/08...
At meeting rich in symbolism, Ishiba and South Korea's Lee agree to steadily build ties
In the two countries' first joint document in 17 years, the leaders agreed to work together 'to advance future-oriented and mutually beneficial common interests.'
japantimes.co.jp
For the first time, North Korean state TV has shown its soldiers battling inside Ukraine. This came the same day it televised a ceremony where Kim Jong Un honored over 100 soldiers who were killed in the fighting.
@MiddleEastEye: Iranian media has published a video of Iran's Fordow nuclear site which had reportedly been targeted in US air strikes. According to US president Donald Trump, three nuclear facilities, Fordow, Isfahan and Natanz were "completely obliterated". https://t.co/OJzHmebjfq
🧵 🔹 June 17, 15:00-16:00 (CEST): Korea Strategic Talks Webinar VII www.isdp.eu/event/korea-... Featuring Bruce Klingner, @heritagefdn.bsky.social , and @jennytown.bsky.social , Stimson Center
APT43 activity with multiple European embassies being spoofed and likely targeted. Rapport building themes and lures center around DPRK Human Rights and reactions to DPRKs official stance on NK troops in Russia cc @jennytown.bsky.social @elias.foxhold.net @garyfreasbysm.bsky.social
President Trump said he is appointing Jeanine Pirro — a Fox News host whose misstatements about the 2020 election were cited in two defamation lawsuits against the network — as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
Trump names Fox News host Jeanine Pirro as interim U.S. attorney for D.C.
President Donald Trump is appointing Jeanine Pirro, a Fox News host and longtime ally, to serve as the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. She replaces embattled nominee Ed Martin.
washingtonpost.com
Because who knows what else is going to happen in South Korean politics, here’s the order of succession for a presidential vacancy. The PM resigned to run for president and #2 resigned to avoid impeachment, so #3 (education minister) is the acting president as of today.
South Korean politics these days is dizzying. 4th President since Yoon's impeachment and with only a month until the snap presidential election, Lee Jae-myung still faces legal troubles, there's no clear PPP candidate yet and a possible third/coalition party seems more likely.
🗞️연합뉴스 속보 봇@news-bot.bsky.social · last yr.李대행, 첫 국무회의 주재…"30여일 혼신 다해 국정 챙겨야"
South Korea can finally move forward. Snap elections in 60 days. Should be an interesting (and intense) campaigning period.
BREAKING NEWS - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol REMOVED from office by the court's unanimous decision www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
South Korean court removes president from office, says he violated duties
The Constitutional Court upheld the impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol over his attempt to impose martial law, a decision expected to exacerbate political divisions.
washingtonpost.com
