New East-West Center Publications (free, pdfs)

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• Repression and Punishment in North Korea: Survey Evidence of Prison Camp Experiences, by Stephan Haggard and Marcus Noland. October 2009.
• Japan's Approach to Building Peace: A Critical Appraisal and the Way Forward, by Kuniko Ashizawa. December 16, 2009.
• The Cambodia-Thailand Conflict: A Test for ASEAN, by Sokbunthoeun So. December 10, 2009.
• The Democratic Party of Japan and North Korea Policy, by Yoichiro Sato. November 16, 2009.

Repression and Punishment in North Korea: Survey Evidence of Prison Camp Experiences, by Stephan Haggard and Marcus Noland. East-West Center Working Papers, Politics, Governance, and Security Series, No. 20. Honolulu: East-West Center, October 2009. 39 pp. Paper, $3.00.

The penal system has played a central role in the North Korean government's response to the country's profound economic and social changes. Two refugee surveys--one conducted in China, one in South Korea--document its changing role. The regime disproportionately targets politically suspect groups, particularly those involved in market-oriented economic activities. Levels of violence and deprivation do not appear to differ substantially between the infamous political prison camps, penitentiaries for felons, and labor camps used to incarcerate individuals for misdemeanors, including economic crimes. Substantial numbers of those incarcerated report experiencing deprivation with respect to food as well as public executions and other forms of violence. This repression appears to work; despite substantial cynicism about the North Korean system, refugees do not report signs of collective action aimed at confronting the regime.

Such a system may also reflect ulterior motives. High levels of discretion with respect to arrest and sentencing and very high costs of detention, arrest and incarceration encourage bribery; the more arbitrary and painful the experience with the penal system, the easier it is for officials to extort money for avoiding it. These characteristics not only promote regime maintenance through intimidation, but may facilitate predatory corruption as well.

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Japan's Approach to Building Peace: A Critical Appraisal and the Way Forward, by Kuniko Ashizawa. Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 45. Washington, D.C.: East-West Center in Washington, December 16, 2009. 2 pp. Electronic.

On the eve of President Obama's first visit to Asia in early November 2009, the new Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-led government announced a new assistance package to Afghanistan amounting to US$5 billion over the next five years to support reconstruction and stabilization. This new package will, in effect, quadruple Japan's annual assistance, making it the second largest financial contributor to Afghanistan's reconstruction among individual donor states after the United States. Kuniko Ashizawa describes Japan's approach to peacebuilding in Afghanistan and other areas of conflict.

The Cambodia-Thailand Conflict: A Test for ASEAN, by Sokbunthoeun So. Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 44. Washington, D.C.: East-West Center in Washington, December 10, 2009. 2 pp. Electronic.

The current conflict between Cambodia and Thailand, both members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), provides a test case for ASEAN to act as a key player in resolving disputes among its members. A failure by ASEAN to do so would reduce its credibility and impede the realization of an ASEAN community by 2015. Sokbunthoeun So discusses the Cambodian-Thai conflict and the implications for ASEAN.

Image by Akoaraisin via Flickr

The Democratic Party of Japan and North Korea Policy, by Yoichiro Sato. Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 43. Washington, D.C.: East-West Center in Washington, November 16, 2009. 2 pp. Electronic.

When President Obama met Prime Minister Hatoyama of Japan in November 2009, a variety of contentious bilateral issues were on the table. However, despite divergence between the two countries on the military base issues in Okinawa and disagreement over Japan's emphasis on building an East Asian Community, the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) government will stay closely aligned with the United States in terms of its basic North Korea policy. Yoichiro Sato discusses the new Japanese government's policy toward North Korea.

Backlist of recent titles in the Asia Pacific Bulletin publication series:

The United States-Indonesia Comprehensive Partnership and the New Yudhoyono Administration, by Thomas B. Pepinsky. Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 42. Washington, D.C.: East-West Center in Washington, August 17, 2009. 2 pp. Electronic.

Bill Clinton in North Korea: Winners and Losers, by Denny Roy. Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 41. Washington, D.C.: East-West Center in Washington, August 11, 2009. 2 pp. Electronic.

The ASEAN Inter-Governmental Commission on Human Rights and Beyond, by Hao Duy Phan. Asia Pacific Bulletin, No. 40. Washington, D.C.: East-West Center in Washington, July 20, 2009. 2 pp. Electronic.