Alex WellersteinVerified account

Glad to see North and South Korea making what appear to be earnest efforts to reduce tensions and short-term possibility of war. But let us not forget history: DPRK strategy has long been one of oscillation between good and bad relations with regard to ROK.

For people wondering, how much credit is this to Trump, Kim, whomever? The answer is: we aren't really going to know for a very long time. This is the kind of question that only really gets answered when you open up the archives — if then. So beware drawing lessons at this stage.

What are you Korean credentials here? Journalist? Scholar of the Korean Peninsula?

I'm an academic historian with a fancy PhD, for whatever that is worth, and I have spent a lot of time looking at how difficult it is to diagnose causes behind historical events. Take my views with as many grains of salt as you prefer.

that's great. you can be a historian of whatever you like. it doesn't make your wrong take any more right.

Feel free to ignore me — I will happily reciprocate