Southeast Asia-North Korea Relations: Drivers, Linkages, and Strategic Ambivalence

Southeast Asia-North Korea Relations reveals the genesis and evolution of Southeast Asian countries’ diplomatic relations with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK/North Korea) by unpacking the underlying political, economic, and security connections.

In this book, chapters analyse in detail the individual bilateral linkages of the ten states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with the DPRK that vary in intensity and visibility. Bringing together an international group of experts, including, uniquely, authors representing every individual ASEAN state, this edited volume dissects the parameters of the bilateral relationships as well as the multi-faceted regional-level interactions and the roles of certain key external actors, especially South Korea and China.

This book is a path-breaking addition to the study and analysis of regional inter-linkages in Asia and will be of interest to students and scholars working on North Korean studies, Southeast Asia, including ASEAN, and also on Korean Peninsula topics as well as international relations and security studies, especially considering the role of “small” states.

Chiew-Ping Hoo is a Senior Fellow of the East Asian International Relations (EAIR) Caucus in Malaysia.

Shine Choi is Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand. Recent publications include North Korea in International Politics: Problems and Alternatives (Routledge, 2015).

Brian Bridges is former Professor of Political Science at Lingnan University in Hong Kong.

Source: publisher’s website

Contents

1. Introduction: Southeast Asia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea | Chiew-Ping Hoo and Shine Choi
2. The DPRK’s Relations with Southeast Asia: Historical Legacies | Brian Bridges and Chiew-Ping Hoo

Part I: DPRK’s Traditional Friends: Plus Ça Change?

3. Modifiers of Indonesia’s Policy Towards North Korea | Andrew W. Mantong
4. From Close Allies to Distant Comrades: The Ups and Downs of the Vietnam-North Korea Relationship | Khang Vu
5. Lao PDR and the DPRK: Long-Standing Camaraderie | Hirzawati Atikah Mohd Tahir and Boualaphiane Sisouk
6. Cambodia-DPRK Relations: Continuity and Changes | Vannarith Chheang
7. Myanmar-DPRK Relations during Political and Geopolitical Instability | Andray Abrahamian

Part II: DPRK’s Modern Haven

8. Malaysia-North Korea Relations: From Cold War Neutrality and Friendly Relations to Present Estrangement | Chiew-Ping Hoo
9. The Origins of Singapore’s Non-aligned DPRK Policy | Shawn Ho
10. Thailand-North Korea Relations: The Odd Couple | Kavi Chongkittavorn
11. Brunei’s Relations with North Korea: Practising Small State Foreign Policy and Minimal Pragmatism | Mikio Oishi
12. The Shifting Sands: Duterte, the Philippines, and ASEAN’s Evolving Relations with the DPRK | Richard Javad Heydarian

Part III: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the Republic of Korea, and China

13. ASEAN and the Korean Peninsula: Socialising North Korea and Beyond | Sarah Teo
14. South Korea’s Security Cooperation with Southeast Asia: Implications for the Korean Peninsula | Jaehyon Lee
15. The China Factor in North Korea-Southeast Asia Relations | Chow-Bing Ngeow
16. Conclusion: Smaller States’ Strategic Ambivalence: Southeast Asia’s Engagement with North Korea | Chiew-Ping Hoo, Shine Choi and Brian Bridges