CRS Products and Experts on North Korea

Updated November 13, 2018 (R45056)

North Korea has posed one of the most persistent U.S. foreign policy challenges of the post-Cold War period. With recent advances in its nuclear and missile capabilities under leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea has become a grave security threat to the United States and its allies. Over the first 10 months of 2018, Kim held three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, three with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and one with President Donald Trump, in Singapore in June 2018. This activity produced a number of agreements, though questions remain about their sustainability. Below is a selective list of CRS products covering North Korea, followed by a list of CRS experts and their contact information.

CRS has several types of general distribution products:

In addition to the products listed below, a number of CRS products on other countries (e.g., U.S.-Taiwan relations) may discuss those countries' relations with North Korea. For more, see CRS.gov or contact one of the authors below.

Products Covering 2018 North Korea-Related Issues

CRS In Focus IF10246, U.S.-North Korea Relations, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Insight IN10916, The June 12 Trump-Kim Jong-un Summit, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Insight IN10974, The September 2018 Inter-Korean Summit, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Insight IN10987, North Korea Diplomacy: October 2018 Status Report, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R45033, Nuclear Negotiations with North Korea, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R45169, A Peace Treaty with North Korea?, by [author name scrubbed] et al.

CRS In Focus IF10472, North Korea's Nuclear and Ballistic Missile Programs, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R41438, North Korea: Legislative Basis for U.S. Economic Sanctions, by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R44994, The North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress, coordinated by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R44912, North Korean Cyber Capabilities: In Brief, by [author name scrubbed] et al.

CRS In Focus IF10467, Possible U.S. Policy Approaches to North Korea, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

Related Products on South Korea-U.S. Relations

CRS In Focus IF10165, South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R41259, North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation, coordinated by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R44950, Redeploying U.S. Nuclear Weapons to South Korea: Background and Implications in Brief, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS In Focus IF10733, U.S.-South Korea (KORUS) FTA, coordinated by [author name scrubbed]

Products on North Korea-Related Legislation

CRS Report R43835, State Sponsors of Acts of International Terrorism—Legislative Parameters: In Brief, by [author name scrubbed]

CRS In Focus IF10694, Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]

CRS In Focus IF10805, Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATS Act) Deadlines, Time Frames, and Start Dates, by [author name scrubbed]

Archived Products on North Korea

CRS Report R41259, North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation, coordinated by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report RL34256, North Korea's Nuclear Weapons: Technical Issues, by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R43480, Iran-North Korea-Syria Ballistic Missile and Nuclear Cooperation, coordinated by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R40095, Foreign Assistance to North Korea, by [author name scrubbed] and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report R43865, North Korea: Back on the State Sponsors of Terrorism List?, by [author name scrubbed] et al.

CRS Report RL31696, North Korea: Economic Sanctions Prior to Removal from Terrorism Designation, by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report RL30811, North-South Korean Relations: A Chronology of Events in 2000 and 2001, by [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report RL32743, North Korea: A Chronology of Events, October 2002-December 2004, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]

CRS Report RL33389, North Korea: A Chronology of Events in 2005, by [author name scrubbed], [author name scrubbed], and [author name scrubbed]

Table 1. CRS Experts on North Korea

Issue

Name

Phone

Email

General North Korea issues, including overall U.S. North Korea policy

 

Mark Manyin

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

 

[author name scrubbed]

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

North Korea's military capabilities and the U.S. military response

Nuclear Capabilities

Mary Beth Nikitin

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Missiles and Missile Defense

Mary Beth Nikitin

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Cyber Capabilities

Catherine Theohary

7- 0844

[email address scrubbed]

U.S. Military Planning

Kathleen McInnis

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Sanctions

 

Dianne Rennack

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Legislation relating to North Korea

 

Dianne Rennack

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

North Korea's economy

 

Mark Manyin

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

North Korea-China relations

 

Susan Lawrence

[phone number scrubbed]

[email address scrubbed]

Note: For requests in other topic areas, please contact CRS Inquiry ([phone number scrubbed]).

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Asian Affairs ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])