Publication

A 2013 New Year’s Day speech by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on improving the nation’s economy and calling for better relations with South Korea has sparked a flurry of speculation. The author argues that observers should be skeptical about hints of possible change in North Korea. Nevertheless, several aspects of Kim Jong-un's remarks are noteworthy and give some insight into the unfolding dynamics of Kim’s rule, as well as a sense of how the North may deal with Seoul and Washington in 2013.