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The Dispatch Podcast

Is North Korea Preparing for War? | Interview: Nicholas Eberstadt

Feb 26, 2024
Experts discuss North Korea's possible shift towards war, Kim Jong-un's rationality, China's influence, and potential outcomes for North Korea in the next 25 years.
37:23

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • North Korea's shift towards conquest and annexation raises concerns about potential military conflict.
  • China's cautious control over North Korea indicates calculated strategy to balance regional power dynamics.

Deep dives

Assessment of North Korea's Intentions

The podcast discusses the alarming notion presented in an article that suggested North Korea may have made a strategic decision to go to war. Experts like Robert Carlin and Sig Hecker, known for optimistic views in the past, now express grave concerns about a potential military conflict. Specifically, a shift in North Korea's doctrine towards conquest and annexation, rather than unification with South Korea, raises red flags. While the authors point to real changes in North Korea's ideology, the episode questions the likelihood of imminent war based on historical contexts and expert analysis.

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