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Detention of Michael Kovrig
Detention of Michael Kovrig
The Korean Peninsula Crisis (I): In the Line of Fire and Fury
The Korean Peninsula Crisis (I): In the Line of Fire and Fury
Table of Contents
  1. Executive Summary
  2. Introduction
  3. Pyongyang’s Nuclear Motives
    1. Strategic Goals and External Risks
    2. Challenges at Home
  4. Sabre Rattling from Washington
    1. Undeterrable North Korea and a U.S. That Hates Being Deterred
    2. “All Options on the Table”
  5. Seoul’s Shifting Calculations
    1. No Sunshine 2.0
    2. Not Masters of Their Own Fate
  6. Extent and Limits of Chinese Influence
    1. Three Nos, and Then Some
    2. How Far Can Beijing Go?
  7. Where Japan and Russia Stand
  8. Conclusion
  9. Appendix A: Maps of the Korean Peninsula
  10. Appendix B: Map of North East Asia
Media Release

Detention of Michael Kovrig

Please click here for a Chinese translation of this media release.

The International Crisis Group calls for the immediate release of its North East Asia Senior Adviser Michael Kovrig. Michael was detained on Monday night in Beijing by the Beijing Bureau of Chinese State Security. Crisis Group has received no information about Michael since his detention and is concerned for his health and safety. We are making every effort to learn more and to secure consular access to Michael from the Chinese authorities.

Michael has been a full-time and highly respected expert for Crisis Group since February 2017. Though a former Canadian diplomat, he no longer works for the Canadian government and is employed solely by Crisis Group. Throughout his time with the organisation, Michael has distinguished himself for his rigorous and impartial reporting, regularly interviewing Chinese officials to accurately reflect their views in our work.

He is a noted and sought after contributor on security issues in North East Asia, particularly relating to China, Japan and the Korean peninsula. Among his recent publications are a paper about China's expanding role in peace and security in Africa and contributions to pieces on the North Korean nuclear crisis.

Crisis Group is an independent organisation that conducts field research and offers policy recommendations to help end deadly conflicts worldwide. Our Board of Trustees comprises prominent figures from the highest levels of government, business and philanthropic institutions from more than 30 countries, including former heads of state and foreign ministers from  Algeria, Australia, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Israel, Japan, Liberia, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden. Two Trustees are Chinese: Hu Shuli, founder and publisher of Caixin Media, and Wang Jisi, President of the Institute of International and Strategic Studies at Peking University.

We continue to seek information on Michael’s case and wellbeing and will post updates as necessary.

Contact: media@crisisgroup.org

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Report / Asia

The Korean Peninsula Crisis (I): In the Line of Fire and Fury

Also available in 한국어, 简体中文
A Korean War memorial in Pyongyang, capital of the North Korea, with the newly built Victorious Fatherland Liberation War Museum in the background, in April 2016. CRISIS GROUP/Christopher Green
Report 293 / Asia

The Korean Peninsula Crisis (I): In the Line of Fire and Fury

A nightmarish Korean peninsula war is closer than at any time in recent history. In the first of a two-part series, Crisis Group examines the interests and calculations of the states most affected or involved: North Korea, the U.S., South Korea, China, Japan and Russia.

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