Political Risk

BMI View: North Korea's currency reforms in December have raised speculation that public anger could lead to unrest. However, we believe the regime has a sufficiently formidable security... 2010-01-06

Despite the sluggish progress made on universal suffrage, and the recent rise in discontent over spiralling property prices, we see few risks to political stability over the medium... 2009-11-05

BMI View: A new summit between the two Koreas, rumoured to be under discussion, would be symbolically important, but we would not expect it to persuade the North to denuclearise.... 2009-10-29

BMI View: Reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il has halted preparations for his third son Kim Jong Un to succeed him raise new uncertainties about the country's future leadership.... 2009-10-01

The re-emergence of violence in Xinjiang following a spate of stabbings with syringes has reiterated the rising threat of political instability in China. Indeed, although Beijing's... 2009-09-07

BMI View: North Korea is currently pursuing improved relations with the South and the US, following recent conciliatory gestures by all sides. However, the rapprochement is likely... 2009-09-02

BMI View: Although recent crackdowns serve as an encouraging sign that the current administration remains nominally committed to political reform, we expect further progress on... 2009-06-19

BMI View: Japan is likely to accelerate some of its military programmes following North Korea's increasingly aggressive moves of late. However, Japan's severe recession and shrinking... 2009-06-05

BMI View: We see a growing possibility of a military clash between North and South Korea, most probably in the West Sea, as Pyongyang prepares to test more missiles and provoke Seoul... 2009-06-03

Following the unexpected suicide of former president Roh Moo-hyun, opposition politicians have blamed the ruling administration, as local prosecutors revealed damaging details of... 2009-06-02