Though once described by Mao Zedong as being as close as "lips and teeth," the sixty-year history of the Sino-DPRK alliance has been littered with instances of tension and conflict. According to James Person, this history accounts for Pyongyang's deep mistrust of China and its interest in developing a relationship with the United States, despite appearances to the contrary. Newly obtained documents from the archives of North Korea's former communist allies shed light on past and present challenges to the Sino-DPRK alliance. Based on his research, Person believes new opportunities will emerge for the United States to engage with Pyongyang as 2012—the year by which the DPRK leadership has promised to deliver to its people a prosperous nation—approaches.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
with
James Person
