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John Delury

@johndelury.bsky.social
450 followers 446 following 174 posts

Living in Seoul... writing on empire, China, and America... watching the two Koreas... reminiscing about Rome

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Reposted by John Delury
Dr. Mark P. Barry ☯︎ @drmarkpbarry.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
US envoy reportedly voiced concern about Lee’s call for ‘nuclear-free peninsula’ www.hani.co.kr/arti/english...
hani.co.kr
US envoy reportedly voiced concern about Lee’s call for ‘nuclear-free peninsula’
The acting US ambassador reportedly said that the expression could send North Korea the wrong signal and that ‘denuclearization’ was preferable
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
G2 world
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Reposted by John Delury
Engelsberg Ideas @engelsbergideas.bsky.social · 31/10/2025
What China wants from Europe | @johndelury.bsky.social engelsbergideas.com/notebook/wha...
engelsbergideas.com
What China wants from Europe
China's activities in Europe are driven more by opportunism than any grand plot to divide the continent. In geopolitical terms, Beijing treats European countries as extensions of American power.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 29/10/2025
Delighted to reunite w/ Laura Bicker back on the Korean Peninsula! As Donald Trump arrives here today and with him the global spotlight, #BBCNews chatted w/ opposing extremes of the Korean political spectrum, the anti-Trumpers vs. the anti-CCPers www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
"No Trump! No China!": Caught in middle, South Korea hosts rival superpowers
South Korea's President Lee is in for a diplomatic dance as he hosts the leaders of US and China.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 24/10/2025
Thoughts ahead of APEC open.substack.com/pub/johndelu...
open.substack.com
The World System Comes to Gyeongju
Things I'm watching for as APEC approaches
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
October Surprise at the DMZ? Whether Kim and Trump meet now or later (or never), important question is why & what next? I offer 3 options, although in the end we might need to invent another one johndelury.substack.com/p/trump-and-...
johndelury.substack.com
Trump and Kim Back to the DMZ?
We are rapidly approaching a little window of opportunity for diplomacy with North Korea, as Donald Trump prepares to make the first visit to Asia of his second term, with stops in Tokyo (to meet the ...
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Parade season in the Far East! Kim Jong Un is next, hosting 80th anniversary of founding of Korean Workers Party in 1945. Check out my deep dive into Cold War context:
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Had some thoughts reading Quantico speeches by Hegseth and Trump through the lens of China's Cultural Revolution. Shout outs to @goldkorn.bsky.social @mariarepnikova.bsky.social Geremie Barme, Orville Schell, Didi Tang substack.com/@johndelury/...
substack.com
American Mao and his Lin Biao
I read the transcripts so you don't have to, but you probably should if you haven't
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 04/10/2025
'How close are China, Russia, and North Korea, really?' This debate is at the heart of geopolitics. It's been going for years and will continue for a long time. In a new essay for @newlinesmag.bsky.social I offer the backlight of Cold War history to help us assess newlinesmag.com/essays/beiji...
newlinesmag.com
Beijing’s Military Parade May Not Be the Show of Unity That It Seems
Similarly high-profile diplomatic events involving Russia, China and North Korea in the 1950s failed to stop Cold War solidarity collapsing into acrimony
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 03/10/2025
Delighted to share my first piece for New Lines Magazine; trying to understand the 2025 parade sent me back to 1957 and 1959 looking for clues
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
Domestic civil resistance argument by Hardy Merriman for solidarity, a Team Democracy, have international relations implications that global leaders have not yet acted upon. Not YET. great discussion @eosnos.bsky.social @sbg1.bsky.social @janemayer.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/za/podcast/j...
podcasts.apple.com
Jimmy Kimmel and the Power of Public Pressure
Podcast Episode · The Political Scene | The New Yorker · 27/09/2025 · 44m
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 28/09/2025
I wrote a new Substack about Kim-Xi-Putin vibes in Beijing, and to my surprise it ended up being mostly about hands. Shoutouts @vanjackson.bsky.social @sheenagreitens.bsky.social @victordcha.bsky.social @colinzwirko.bsky.social @josephtorigian.bsky.social substack.com/home/post/p-...
substack.com
I Watched This Kim Jong Un Documentary So You Don't Have To
what we can learn from North Korean propaganda on Kim's visit to Beijing & the contrast between Putin and Xi
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 25/09/2025
Stephen Hanmer D'Elía JD, LCSW yauguru.substack.com?r=fir&utm_ca...
yauguru.substack.com
Stephen Hanmer D'Elía JD, LCSW | Stephen Hanmer D'Elía,JD,LCSW | Substack
Exploring the intersections of healing, connection, and systemic change through therapy, policy, and practice. Click to read Stephen Hanmer D'Elía JD, LCSW, by Stephen Hanmer D'Elía,JD,LCSW, a Substac...
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 24/09/2025
A mensch. I learned so much from him, and I feel honored too the three of us were able to have that conversation, and Jerry lives on in this as in countless projects, writings, students, cases.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 18/09/2025
Some urban travelogue/ imperial history ruminations from me, my second post on Substack, check it out and let me know thoughts. Free to all but if you wanna join as paid subscriber that is totally fine with me! johndelury.substack.com/p/a-visit-to...
johndelury.substack.com
A Visit to Yongsan Family Park
Thinking about Imperium in the Children's Garden
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 04/09/2025
Great stuff as always from @myhlee.bsky.social @washingtonpost.com on significance of Kim Jong Un's bring your daughter to the parade. It's a fascinating and important phenomenon in terms of gauging North Korea's future. Appreciate being able to add my 2 cents www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/0...
washingtonpost.com
Kim Jong Un takes his daughter to China — and fuels succession chatter
Kim Ju Ae, who is about 12, has accompanied her father on a high-profile visit to Beijing, making it more likely that she is North Korea’s heir apparent.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Appreciate you @joshjonsmith.bsky.social getting 'big boys' in the headline. All eyes on Beijing tomorrow for the Big Parade. Shared some thoughts w/ @reutersworld.feeds.directory www.reuters.com/world/china/...
reuters.com
North Korea's Kim Jong Un to line up with the 'big boys' at China military parade
Kim Jong Un's trip to Beijing this week offers the reclusive young North Korean leader an unprecedented opportunity to stand beside partners from China and Russia, gain implicit support for his banned nuclear weapons, and expand his diplomatic circle.
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Reposted by John Delury
Michelle Ye Hee Lee @myhlee.bsky.social · 02/09/2025
Train presumed to be transporting Kim Jong Un has pulled into Beijing, live footage shows. Kim, who rarely travels internationally, left Pyongyang yesterday in his transportation of choice — in a heavily armored, slow-moving train for 16-20 hours — for China's Victory Day military parade Wednesday.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Enjoyed talking w/ @npr.org Anthony Kuhn for his insightful preview of next week's Victory Parade in Beijing & surprise announcement that Kim Jong Un will attend. I'm thinking a lot about historical echoes & hope to write something along those lines... www.npr.org/2025/08/29/g...
npr.org
In a first, Kim Jong Un will attend a gathering of leaders with both Putin and Xi
When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits China next week for a military parade, it will be his debut at a gathering of foreign leaders for a rare meeting of China, Russia and North Korea.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Kim Jong Un will be standing on the Tiananmen Rostrum next week alongside Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping for the military parade commemorating end of WWII english.news.cn/20250828/38b...
english.news.cn
Kim Jong Un to attend China's V-Day commemorations on Sept. 3
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 28/08/2025
Lots of thoughts as dust settles on SK prez Lee Jae-myung's visit to DC. He got high marks here in Seoul for avoiding White House humiliation/ disaster. Disciplined performance with cameras rolling. Good steward of ROK-US relationship.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Kudos to @alexludoboyd.bsky.social for taking one for the team!
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 14/08/2025
Congrats 恭喜恭喜 to the brand new cohort of fellows in the National Committee on US-China Relations public intellectuals program. Great group, and urgently needed @ncuscr.bsky.social #PIPFellow www.ncuscr.org/twenty-leadi...
ncuscr.org
Twenty Leading China Specialists Selected for Ninth Round of Public Intellectuals Program
The National Committee on U.S.-China Relations is pleased to announce the ninth round of fellows in its  Public Intellectuals Program (PIP), generously funded by Carnegie Corporation of New York. The ...
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
@roseluqiu.bsky.social is the OG. fond memories of chatting with her in Hong Kong, accompanied by the great @joshchin.bsky.social for the China Boom Project, and walking away deeply impressed
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 01/08/2025
Podcast double feature to celebrate my return to Seoul (after two blessed years based in Rome). You can hear me on @koreapro.bsky.social talking South Korea's relationship with China... now that US trade deal done, expect shift in focus to Beijing koreapro.org/category/sou...
koreapro.org
Podcast - Korea Pro
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 30/07/2025
Thoughts on China-Korea relations-- Beijing's overarching strategy on the Peninsula; patterns in Xi Jinping's dealings with ROK presidents (Lee Jaemyung is Xi's 5th); whether Lee should go to Beijing for September Victory Parade; etc etc. Big thanks to Jeongmin Kim & KoreaPro Team
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
Spotted on street corner in Seoul
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Reposted by John Delury
John Nilsson-Wright @jnilssonwright.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
#Japan's PM #Ishiba announces intention to resign w/in month, following breakthrough in trade talks w/ #US. This was inevitable, given need to take responsibility for 3 electoral defeats: metropolitan, lower & upper house elections www.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/202...
yomiuri.co.jp
石破首相退陣へ、月内にも表明する方向で調整…関税協議の妥結踏まえ意向固める
【読売新聞】 石破首相(自民党総裁)は23日、米国の関税措置を巡る日米協議が妥結したことを踏まえ、退陣する意向を固め、周辺に伝えた。月内にも退陣を表明する方向だ。20日投開票の参院選で自民、公明両党が惨敗した後、首相は続投を表明した
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 21/07/2025
I think about Liang Qichao a lot too. Great review for @chinabksreview.bsky.social by @jwassers.bsky.social of Peter Zarrow's translation of Liang's writings. Jeff is just the reviewer to tease out the linkages to today-- Taiwan, Hong Kong & beyond chinabooksreview.com/2025/07/17/l...
chinabooksreview.com
Liang Qichao: Reformer or Revolutionary? | China Books Review
The legacy of the late Qing era intellectual, once exiled in Japan, is overlooked in the West. A new collection of his essays shows a revolutionary spirit that is still alive in dissidents abroad toda...
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
State-run elementary and even preschools doing the work in Tibet of the “reeducation centers” in Xinjiang. Old imperial trick… but behind every national school, hedge schools are keeping the flame lit. Important reporting by @joshchin.bsky.social et al www.wsj.com/world/china/...
wsj.com
China Steals Language and Home Life From Tibetan Kids as Young as 4
Beijing is building a broad network of preschools across Tibetan areas, seeking to inculcate loyalty to the Chinese Communist Party early in life.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
He should go.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
glad you enjoyed it! (and the homage to Immerwahr:)
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 27/06/2025
delighted to share my review essay on how the concept of 'empire' has migrated from the study of Chinese history to analysis of international affairs. great fun writing for @alecash.net & the exciting new @chinabksreview.bsky.social @asiasociety.org chinabooksreview.com/2025/06/26/c...
chinabooksreview.com
How to Hide a Chinese Empire | China Books Review
After millennia of imperial history, China today has distanced itself from the concept of empire. But the new forms of Chinese imperium are more subtle than territorial conquest.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
China may be sitting on the sidelines of the US/Israel-Iran War... but is this a ring they want to be in? (Do Americans really want to be in this ring, for that matter?) my thoughts in @washingtonpost.com
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
Only in America is this a question www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/u...
nytimes.com
Is the U.S. at War With Iran?
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
“Trajan was ambitious of fame, and as long as mankind shall continue to bestow more liberal applause on their destroyers than on their benefactors, the thirst for military glory will ever be the vice of the most exalted characters.”
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 22/06/2025
The US bombing of Iranian nuclear strikes does not “send a message” to Kim Jong Un- its nothing new for North Korea, which has always taken the prospect of US military strike very seriously.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 20/06/2025
Il futuro della penisola coreana da @junkoterao.bsky.social @internazionale.it www.internazionale.it/notizie/junk...
internazionale.it
Il futuro della penisola coreana è nelle mani di Lee Jae-myung
Il nuovo presidente sudcoreano ha promesso di recuperare i rapporti con Pyongyang. Ma per farlo serviranno pragmatismo e alcune rinunce. Leggi
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
This is a great program for rising stars interested in North Korea and foreign policy. Apply! ncafp.org/resources/ap...
ncafp.org
APPLY: 2025 Korean Peninsula Emerging Leaders
Applications are open for the NCAFP's 2025 Next-Generation Korean Peninsula Specialists Program! Apply by Monday, June 23, 2025.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 18/06/2025
Very encouraged by appointments by the new South Korean president Lee Jae-myung. Among those I know a bit, Lee Jong-seok is a great choice for NIS, one of the country's leading North Korea experts & 'wrote the book' on NK-China relations en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...
en.yna.co.kr
(profile) Intelligence chief nominee Lee Jong-seok known as well-versed security expert | Yonhap News Agency
SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- Lee Jong-seok, the nominee to lead the National Intelligence Ser...
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Looking forward to my first visit to @eui-schuman.bsky.social & chance to share thoughts on Korean Peninsula diplomacy. Indo-Pacific Focus Group in Florence-- how can you beat that? www.eui.eu/events?id=57...
eui.eu
Trump 2.0 and the fate of the Korean Peninsula
Join John Delury as he examines prospects for diplomacy on the Korean Peninsula
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
I talked to @cnnipr.bsky.social @kimbrunhuber.bsky.social about how new South Korean president Lee Jae-myung will have to swallow 3 bitter pills to resuscitate diplomacy w/ North Korea. Not easy. But the alternatives are worse. video.snapstream.net/Play/4qD6mya...
video.snapstream.net
CNN Newsroom - Professor John Delury
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 08/06/2025
great rec here, looking forward to listening to @anthonykuhn.bsky.social on @chinarhyming.bsky.social podcast
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
South Korea has a brand new president. My thoughts for @foreignaffairs.bsky.social on the window of opportunity that his election opens for renewed diplomacy with North Korea. www.foreignaffairs.com/south-korea/...
foreignaffairs.com
South Korea's New President Could Transform the Korean Peninsula
Lee Jae-myung can push Trump and Kim back to real diplomacy.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 03/06/2025
South Korea's political vacuum ends today with election of new president. My thoughts on what next coming very soon...
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 28/05/2025
Next week, South Korea's political vacuum finally closes & a new president takes office. Looking forward to discussing implications for Asia and beyond w/ Jina Kim, Ellen Kim, & Emma Chanlett-Avery-- thanks to ‪@asiapolicy.asiasociety.org‬ for making it happen asiasociety.org/policy-insti...
asiasociety.org
Political Reset? Implications of the ROK Election for the Alliance and the Region
Join ASPI for a timely discussion on the South Korean election results and its implications for the U.S.-ROK alliance and South Korea’s relations with its Northeast Asian neighbors.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 10/05/2025
Lotta hopes being placed on Papa Leone’s shoulders, as they should. Playing a role for peace in Korea among them.
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
The energy of the crowd running gently through the streets toward the square, all of us following the lead of a young nun in white habit, faces brimming in joyous anticipation, then the moment of revelation, the surprise (l'americano!), the chants 'viva la papa'-- it was something to behold!
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 07/05/2025
Time to think seriously about what a Lee Jae-myung administration would mean for the region and the world, starting with how Lee likely to approach the Big Five: Trump, Kim, Xi, Putin, Ishiba
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John Delury @johndelury.bsky.social · 27/04/2025
A bit surprising public acknowledgment of North Korean involvement didn't come sooner. Very unlikely Moscow would not coordinate this w/ Pyongyang, so North Korean acknowledgment may be next-- celebrating heroic volunteers, martyrs, etc. Let's see... www.ft.com/content/7107...
ft.com
Kremlin claims to have pushed Ukraine out of Kursk as Trump criticises Putin
Russia acknowledges presence of North Korean troops on the ground for the first time
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