May 4, 2017
Special to WorldTribune.com
By Donald Kirk
TOKYO -- The shadows of war lengthen over Japanese society in thrall to Article 9 of a “peace constitution” foisted under the “occupation” led by the victorious World War II Pacific commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur.
Much as the “rightist” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe might want to do away (more…)
Donald Kirk
www.donaldkirk.com
Where to Order
JAKTEN PÅ NOBELS FREDSPRIS Sør-Koreas hemmelige etterretningskampanje mot Den norske Nobelkomité
"THE QUEST FOR THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE South Korea's secret intelligence campaign against the Norwegian Nobel Committee," Kim Kisam and Donald Kirk, Norwegian edition, Spartacus, Oslo, https://www.spartacus.no/index.php?ID=Bok&ID2=922
Kim Dae Jung's presidency
DK answers questions about his book, "Korea Betrayed: Kim Dae Jung and Sunshine," in lengthy interview on "Korea and the World"
Conversation at CSIS, DC
Talking about "Korea Betrayed"
Magazine Articles
Mostly Asia, 1973-1991
WSJ Commentary on Chaebol
Putting a stop to South Korea's Family Empires
Samsung Fortunes Sail While Empire's Boss in Jail
Trial and tribulations of J.Y. Lee, son and heir to the throne
Little Madmen: Correspondents' Tales
History
Caught between huge conflicting forces, people look with foreboding on the gathering clouds of war
1.Points of Crisis
The rise of Kim Dae Jung and the high price of his failed drive for reconciliation with North Korea
Three contributions on Korea -- North, South and Kim Dae Jung -- for this massive five-volume work on human rights issues worldwide
Corruption and looting after the hasty pullout of U.S. forces from their historic bases
Dispelling myths about the sinking of the South Korean navy corvette the Cheonan in March 2010
Memories of the Vietnam War and its aftermath from the arrival of U.S. forces to the release of the last U.S. POWs
The Vietnam War as it spread through Cambodia and Laos into northern and northeastern Thailand
Washington's pact with Pyongyang won't help the starving children
2.Covering Korea
Q&A, Asia-Pacific Businss & Technology Report
Looking back to the Old Days: A Correspondent's Field Manual; A Reader’s Guide to Real News:
Korea through the eyes of correspondents who were there, 1871-2006
Following the story
How the news goes in and out of the Hermit Kingdom
3. Business and Economy
The Rev. Moon's empire bouncing back in South Korea
Play-by-play account of the meltdown that nearly bankrupted the South Korean economy
The story of North Korea's 105-story white elephant
An unauthorized study of Korea's largest business group, its triumphs and failures, and the peasant's son who founded it....
"Korean Dynasty is a must read for business people and students of business and the social sciences learning about the socio-economics of Asia." Business Book Review Library; 1995, Vol. 12 Issue 2, p1
The ultimate business reference to the Philippines, providing practical advice from leading experts
Iraq and South Korea face contrasting economic problems and issues, as seen in these articles for Institutional Investor
4. Seoul-Searching
I.--Heart and Seoul: From the ashes of war, Korea's capital rises like a phoenix to world-class. II.--Three Perfect Days: Wining, dining, sightseeing and strolling around one of the world's oldest and greatest capitals
Korean Presidential Favorite Moon Jae-In's Historic Chance
Or maybe not....probably not
Park Geun-hye's tragic downfall
Latest in long series of scandals surrounding S. Korean presidents
Trump will need more than rhetoric to deal with North Korea and China
Kim Jong-un is unlikely to give him time to consider his options
Korea's Samsung: Too Big to Jail
A chaebol boss skates again on corruption charges
Trump Appointees Rattle Rockets
Mattis soft-pedals North Korea, talks tough on South China Sea
Trump's Trip to Reality
Facing President Putin and President Xi
Korea's Park Isn't Going Easily
Impeachment or no, there's plenty of story to spin out yet
Trump's Korean Conumdrum
Trouble in both N. and S. Korea
Just How Far Can the New Friendship Between China and the Philippines Go?
President Duterte, sensing U.S. weakness, kowtows to China
What About a 'Peace Treaty'?
North Korea's fifth nuclear test raises the familiar question
Korea's President Park, US Pres Obama and China's Pres Xi
Sorting out the summits
An Inside Look at Hyundai Motors
Don's "guest review" for forbes.com of "Seoul Man" by Frank Ahrens about his life and times as global PR manager for a huge Korean company
Lines Hardening in NE Asia
N. Korea's missiles heighten tensions
Lotta Shakin' at Lotte
Prosecutors' raids raise fears of slush fund as hotel IPO postponed
Muhammad Ali in Pyongyang
He witnessed pro-wrestling 'festival' but spurned regime
Tough Sell for Ambassador
Talking Koreans into TPP, removing barriers, regulations
Fear 0f Nuclear War Looming in Northeast Asia
Lesson of Obama's Hiroshima visit: Never again
Obama's Vietnam Visit
What about U.S. arms sales?
Chinese Yellow Dust or Korean Industry?
NASA scientists find they share blame for South Korean pollution
'Punisher' Davao Mayor Elected Philippine President
Duterte talks big, faces tough fight to carry out reforms
Park's Mission to Tehran
End of 'Axis of Evil'
Fears of North Korea nuclear and missile tests
They dominate conversation before upcoming party congress
Lotte Towering Inferno
Shin Brothers' Feud Shakes Korea's Fifth Biggest Chaebol
'Philippines' Donald Trump'
Davao mayor talking tough in campaign for president
'Korea's Bernie Sanders'
Software Tycoon Shocks Establishment at Polls
Tough Choice for North Korea Defectors from Vietnam
Paying for failure of restaurant
What's Worse? N. Korea Bluster or China's Bases?
Tough Questions for U.S. forces
Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un Talk up Nukes
Much to discuss at Obama's last nuclear summit in DC
Former CIA Chief Hayden
He's down on Euro intel
Playing the Trump Card?
U. Va. student as N. Korean hostage for negotiations
North Korea's Escalating Nuclear Threats
What are they really plotting?
South Korea's President Park Wins In UN, At Home
Anti-North Sanctions, Anti-Terror Law Buoy Her Government
What 'Korean Miracle'
For many, it's 'Hell Joseon'
Myanmar Opposition Leader Aung San Suu Kyi
She's negotiating fragile transition to democracy
Kaesong Complex Shutdown
Final blow to North-South Korea rapprochement?
Star Wars over Korea
U.S. presses for THAAD anti-missile system in wake of N. Korea rocket launch
Pressure on South Korea to 'Go Nuclear' For Defense
Raising fears of war with N. Korea
China Slow on Pressuring North Korea on its Nukes
Expert urges Xi to call Obama
South Korea's Warning on North Korea's Nukes
Urging China to join in tough response to fourth test
Comfort Woman Debate
Experts agree: keep the statue across from Japanese embassy
North Korea's Latest Blast
What was it -- if not an H-bomb?
Stephen Bosworth, 1939-2016, 'Consummate' Diplomat
Played key role as ambassador, negotiator on Korea, Philippines
Japan-Korea Come to Terms on Comfort Women
But what about that statue outside Japan embassy in Seoul?
Miss Canada Blasts China
Barred from Miss World pageant
N. Korea's Popular Moranbong Girl Group Exits Beijing
Why was concert cancelled?
Putin Threatens Nukes
U.S. sees scary policy reversal
From Crusades to Vietnam
History keeps repeating itself
Korea's Textbook Controversy
Ammunition for leftist protest
Websites in North Korea
Off Limits, Little Used by Elite
N. Korea Missile Exports
China pressure isn't working
China Talks Peace not War
Xi Jinping's peace offensive
China's Vision of Riches
Japan, S. Korea Talking Again
Needed: 'Honest Broker'
To sort out U.S.-China impasse in South China Sea
South Korean Media Hassled
Covering North-South family reunions at Mount Kumkang
U.S Rebuff of Tech Transfer
Korea KFX Fighter Jeopardized
Kim Jong-Un's Big Show
What about nukes and missiles?
Fear of War, Sad Past
Together, they trigger anti-base protest on Okinawa, Jeju
China, Russia, U.S. Face-Off
TPP and Korea at the Vortex
Obama-Xi Summit Trade-Off
China's Power over North Korea, South China Sea
Korea's Lotte Debuts in NY
Historic New York Palace now a Lotte super-luxury lodging
Fields Avenue Rocks
But Clark Air Base is quiet
S. Korea's Park Star VIP
China's 'Victory' Bash
Why N. Korea Caved
Chinese told Kim Jong-un, 'Don't rain on our parade'
Korean Powder Keg
What's the Risk Of Explosion?
Abe's 'Remorse' Statement
Koreans aren't happy about it
On Anniversary of 'Liberation' from Japan
N-S Korea further apart than ever
SK Chairman Freed
Among 6,527 Granted Pardons For Korean Independence Day
Wall Street Journal
Putting a Stop to South Korea's Family Empires
Battle of Lotte Heirs
Rivalry between brothers typifies fights among chaebol heirs
Philippine Build-up at Subic
Will U.S. forces also base there?
Philippines versus China
Reviving historic Subic Bay base
Victory for Samsung Heirs
US fund fails to block merger
Old Enemies in Oval Office
Vietnam party chief's call on Obama shows times have changed
Blessing or Curse
Why should South Korea build its own jet fighter?
Japan, Korea Breathrough
They agree on UNESCO world heritge sites
Samsung Heirs Win Court Ruling in Battle for the Empire
Fight with U.S. hedge fund Elliott
Gay Pride in Korea
Christians protest rally
Korea's Pres Park, Japan's PM Abe Marching to Summit
Overcoming bitter legacy
North Korea's Worst Drought
Missile tests go on as usual
In Korea, Contagion of Fear
Mystery Mers virus spooks people
MERS Virus in South Korea
Memories of SARS Epidemic
MERS Spreads in Korea
Mysterious Disease Fuels Alarm
USS Shiloh at Subic Bay
As US faces down China
War Clouds Over South China Sea Amid Storm of Threats
USS Shiloh Arrives at Subic Bay
Women Peace Marchers
Their rather non-controversial crossing from North to South Korea
WomenCrossDMZ
Female activists talk about going from North to South Korea
India's PM Modi in Korea
He's After Arms and Investment
Brutal Execution of North Korea's Defense Chief
Signals High-Level Discontent
N. Korea Kills Defense Chief
From the Independent, London
Pacman Gears for Next Fight:
Election to Philippine Senate
Vietnam War 40 Years On
A brutal past and new beginnings
Saigon Shrugs Off Parade,
Prefers to Focus on Making Money
Meritz Chairman Cho Builds His Own Financial Empire
Last brother winds up first
Two Koreas Focus on Nukes -- N. for Weapons, S. for Energy
U.S., Seoul Ink New Agreement
First Anniversary of Sinking of South Korean Ferry the Sewol That Claimed 304 Lives
Koreans protest official cover-up
Seoul Motor Show
More foreign imports, fewer gorgeous models
Iran Nuclear Deal
Israel, Republicans, N.Korea hate it
Singpore's Lee Kuan Yew, Korea's Park Chung-hee
Two Dictators With One Agenda
China's Infrastructure Investment Bank
Lures U.S. allies, including Korea
CNN Philippines Debuts with Talk of Anti-Aquino Coup
President taking flak amid massacre investigation
Pakistan's War On Terror
Regime resumes carrying out death penalties
U.S. Ambassador Attacked
....As War Games Go On
Pakistan's War on Terror --
'Good' versus 'Bad' Taliban
Iran's Long Partnership With North Korea
How it threatens any real deal on Iran's nuclear program
Korean Air 'Nut Rage' Lady
Let's Call Her 'Nutrageous'
Looking Back on Vietnam
When we went to war in the air, on the ground --50 years ago
Murder of Japanese Journalist
The Hazards of War Reporting
South Korean Leaders Have to Pay Big Bucks....
...to meet The Man in Pyongyang
As gasoline prices descend...
....Consumers love the benefits
Celebrity defector Shin Dong-hyuk revises details of his saga
Author needs to revise his book
North, South Korea Summitry
Talking About Talks, Not Nukes
U.S. Sanctions on N. Korea
Arms trade, not cyber terrorism
Why North Korea Hates Obama, Sony, 'The Interview'
Heavy-handed, on-target satire
N. Korea's Cyber Warriors
A Privileged Elite Above the Digital Divide in an Isolated Society
Korean Air 'Nut Rage'
Exposes Risks of Family Rule
Korea East Coast Free Economic Zone
Dreaming Big -- Shipping to Europe via Russia or Arctic Ocean
Incheon Free Economic Zone
Will casinos lure rich Chinese?
Broken vows: Samsung Heavy, Samsung Engineering --
They're not becoming one after all
China Promotes Asia Bank --
Did Obama forget about TPP?
Don't Repeat the Mistakes of Vietnam -- WSJ, April, 2005
Same plea reverberates today as U.S. battles ISIS in Iraq and Syria
Backstage Fixer --
N. Korea hears him
U.S. Intelligence Chief's Rescue Mission to North Korea
Are U.S.-N.Korea Talks Next?
N-S Korea Missile Rivalry --
U.S. Oks PAC-3's for South
North Korea's New Sub --
Clearly an old Soviet model
America's political 'takeaway'
U.S. mid-term election drama
In Case of Korean War II
U.S. will take command
Hong Kong Protests Don't Excite Protesters Elsewhere
S. Korean leaders worry about China's heavy hand
Kim Jong-Un's Resurrection
Sparks Still More Questions
What's With Kim Jong-Un's Weird Vanishing Act?
Really, Who Knows?
U.S. Air War Against ISIS
Harks Back to Vietnam, Korea
Kim Jong-un's Illness
N. Korea Leadership Mystery
Seoul Mayor Park Eyes Sunshine
Soft Policy Toward North
Formula for Defeating Isis:
Memories of Vietnam Nightmare
For N. Korea, ISIS, Americans
Are Bait for Cruel Bargaining
High-Altitude Missile System
Raises Ruckus For S. Korea
U.S., South Korea Differ
On Air Defense Amid N.Korea Missile Tests, U.S. 'Pivot'
Pope's Plea For Peace Wows Korean Catholics
But Fails To Ease Tensions
S. Korea's Armed Forces Face Enemy Within:
Sagging Morale, Suicide, Murder
Pope's Visit to Korea....
....Raises Questions About Plight of Christians
Kerry Hits Stone Wall
After India Vetoes WTO Trade Pact
No Chorus for Korus
U.S. Chamber Chief Derides S. Korea on FTA
Mon Dieu!
Korea's Paris Baguette -- Now a Paree Boulangerie
A Year After the Gulf War (155.9KB)
A Reporter Reflects on How the Media Have Changed
A Reporter Reflects on How the Media Have Changed
forbes.com
Analysis from the Indian subcontinent to NE Asia
WorldTribune columns
Window on the Real World
Window on the World
Columns for The Korea Times
Philippines Mired in Worst 'Plunder' Scandal
Aquino Battles 'Port Barrel' Claims
The Great Northeast Asia Power Game
South Korea Hosts China, North Korea Deals on Japan
Dancing to a new tune
Americans Jailed In North Korea Face Uncertain Fates
'NK Korea' Leads Fight Against Gulag
Japan Outrages S. Korea on Comfort Women....
Talks to N. Korea about Kidnap Victims
Iraq Onslaught Tests U.S.
From Ukraine To China And Korea
Tiananmen Anniversary....
Inspires Memories, Fears of New China
Modi, India's New Prime Minister....
....Dreams of Economic Reform, Reconciliation With Pakistan
Great Game-Changer ....
,,,,Comes Out on Top in World's Largest Democracy
Vietnam's Anti-China Protests...
...Reflect Grievances Far Beyond China's Oil Rig in South China Sea
N. Korea's Racist Attack On Obama --
What's Dennis Rodman Saying?
Samsung's Lee Kun-Hee Fights For Life --
With Son, Two Daughters In Line
On Forbes' Rich List
Chung Mong-Joon...
...wants to lead Seoul out of its funk
Arrested Development
Obssesed with control, some Korean tycoons end up in handcuffs
The Sewol Tragedy
Three Wise Monkeys
Ties that Bind -- Weighing the Sewol Tragedy
Future Korea Weekly
Tragedy of Ferry Evokes Volunteerism, Pride after Shame
Korea Times
Personal Tragedy, National Shame
Korea Times
Fixing a feudal system
Independent: South Korea ferry disaster
First the Tragedy, Now the Anger and the Shame
Independent: Families watch...
....as remains of victims returned to shore
CSMonitor: On scene in Jindo
Hope and Despair after S. Korea Ferry Disaster
©DON KIRK PHOTOS
Hither and Yon
Korea vs. Japan: 70 years after WWII, can we just move on? Apparently not
August 20, 2015
Special to WorldTribune.com
By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com
SEOUL — Maybe Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, should have kept his mouth shut.
No matter what he might have said on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese surrender, he would be the target of intensive criticism. The fact is the Japanese are done with (more…)
By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com
SEOUL — Maybe Japan’s Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, should have kept his mouth shut.
No matter what he might have said on the 70th anniversary of the Japanese surrender, he would be the target of intensive criticism. The fact is the Japanese are done with (more…)
South Korea and Japan struggle to move beyond bitter history to address China threat
June 27, 2015
Special to WorldTribune.com
By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com
It’s a time for anniversaries and memories of the tragedies that have afflicted Northeast Asia over the past century.
On Tuesday, the Japanese remembered the horror of the single worst battle in Asian history, the three-month struggle for Okinawa. The battle ended with the (more…)
By Donald Kirk, East-Asia-Intel.com
It’s a time for anniversaries and memories of the tragedies that have afflicted Northeast Asia over the past century.
On Tuesday, the Japanese remembered the horror of the single worst battle in Asian history, the three-month struggle for Okinawa. The battle ended with the (more…)
Forbes.com: U.S. Asian Allies Ask: Is U.S. Ready To Fight China Over Small Islets?
May 9, 2014
President Obama’s much-hyped “pivot” to Asia is leading to misunderstandings between what America’s Asian allies expect and what the U.S. is likely to do in case serious trouble blows up in the seas and small islands claimed by China all around its periphery.
The possibility for misunderstanding is most obvious in (more…)
The possibility for misunderstanding is most obvious in (more…)