All Episodes

February 14, 2022 75 mins

This episode of the Korea Now podcast features an interview that Jed Lea-Henry conducted with Balázs Szalontai. They speak about China’s controversial role in North Korea’s economic transformation, Chinese involvement in planning for a potential second Korean war (1965-1967), Chinese attitudes toward confrontational acts by North Korea, and how North Korea has managed to exploit conflicts between China, Japan, and South Korea, while trying to sabotage trilateral cooperation.

Balázs Szalontai is a Professor at Korea University, a former-Fulbright Scholar and Visiting Professor at Mongolian International University of Science and Technology, and a former-Research Associate at the Institute for International Education in Seoul. Balázs is the author of ‘Kim Il Sung in the Khrushchev Era: Soviet-DPRK Relations and the Roots of North Korean Despotism, 1953-1964’ and ‘North Korea Caught in Time: Images of War and Reconstruction’. He is also the author of ‘Captives of the Past: The Questions of Responsibility and Reconciliation in North Korea’s Narratives of the Korean War’, and his academic works can be found at: Balazs Szalontai | Korea University, Republic of Korea - Academia.edu

*** The Korea Now Podcast #43 – Balázs Szalontai – ‘Memory, Responsibility and Reconciliation - From the Korean War to Denuclearization’ The Korea Now Podcast: The Korea Now Podcast #43 – Balázs Szalontai – ‘Memory, Responsibility and Reconciliation - From the Korean War to Denuclearization’ (libsyn.com)

*** The Korea Now Podcast #100 – Balázs Szalontai – ‘History of the North Korean Socio-Political System’ The Korea Now Podcast: The Korea Now Podcast #100 – Balázs Szalontai – ‘History of the North Korean Socio-Political System’ (libsyn.com)

*** North Korea between China, Japan, and the ROK, 2012-2016 (PDF) North Korea between China, Japan, and the ROK, 2012-2016 | Balazs Szalontai - Academia.edu

*** "If the Neighborhood Catches Fire, One Will Also Come to Grief": Chinese Attitudes toward North Korea's Confrontational Acts, 2009-2014 (PDF) "If the Neighborhood Catches Fire, One Will Also Come to Grief": Chinese Attitudes toward North Korea's Confrontational Acts, 2009-2014 | Balazs Szalontai - Academia.edu

*** Whose War Plan Was It? Sino-DPRK Relations and Kim Il Sung’s Militant Strategy, 1965-1967 (PDF) Whose War Plan Was It? Sino-DPRK Relations and Kim Il Sung’s Militant Strategy, 1965-1967 | Balazs Szalontai - Academia.edu

*** The Dilemmas of Dependency: China's Controversial Role in North Korea's Economic Transformation (PDF) The Dilemmas of Dependency: China's Controversial Role in North Korea's Economic Transformation | Balazs Szalontai - Academia.edu

Support via Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/jedleahenry

Support via PayPal – https://www.paypal.me/jrleahenry

Shop – .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}


Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.