Mike Bosack
@mikebosack.bsky.social
International Negotiator, Peacebuilder, War-tested Leader・Special Advisor, YCAPS・Founder, Parley Policy Initiative • All views my own
The only *durable* way to counter gray-zone activities & violations of int'l laws, rules and norms is to identify illicit activities & respond in ways that are compliant with int'l standards.
Emphasis on "durable."
My comments via @IPDefenseForum⬇️
ipdefenseforum.com/2026/01/japa...
Emphasis on "durable."
My comments via @IPDefenseForum⬇️
ipdefenseforum.com/2026/01/japa...
ipdefenseforum.com
January 15, 2026 at 9:11 PM
The only *durable* way to counter gray-zone activities & violations of int'l laws, rules and norms is to identify illicit activities & respond in ways that are compliant with int'l standards.
Emphasis on "durable."
My comments via @IPDefenseForum⬇️
ipdefenseforum.com/2026/01/japa...
Emphasis on "durable."
My comments via @IPDefenseForum⬇️
ipdefenseforum.com/2026/01/japa...
My analysis of the second Kim Yo Jong-attributed statement related to North Korea's drone allegations against the South⬇️
January 14, 2026 at 2:02 AM
My analysis of the second Kim Yo Jong-attributed statement related to North Korea's drone allegations against the South⬇️
The whispers about Sanae Takaichi dissolving the Lower House are now discussions between the prime minister and ruling party executives.
But why would Takaichi call a snap election now?
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
But why would Takaichi call a snap election now?
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
Why Takaichi would call a snap election
Takaichi may dissolving the Lower House of the parliament upon its mandatory convocation later this month, which would prompt a general election sometime in February.
www.japantimes.co.jp
January 13, 2026 at 11:09 AM
The whispers about Sanae Takaichi dissolving the Lower House are now discussions between the prime minister and ruling party executives.
But why would Takaichi call a snap election now?
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
But why would Takaichi call a snap election now?
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
What happens to (North) Korean People's Army soldiers when they return from the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine War?
Under the DPRK's system of governance, there isn't a straightforward answer for the Kim Jong Un regime.
I offer insight in my latest for NK News⬇️ www.nknews.org/pro/how-nort...
Under the DPRK's system of governance, there isn't a straightforward answer for the Kim Jong Un regime.
I offer insight in my latest for NK News⬇️ www.nknews.org/pro/how-nort...
How North Korea will control battle-tested troops returning from the Ukraine war | NK PRO
North Korea has repeatedly heralded the Korean People’s Army (KPA) troops deployed to Russia to fight against Ukraine, with leader Kim Jong Un joining ceremonies to welcome those who return home and s...
www.nknews.org
January 12, 2026 at 10:39 AM
What happens to (North) Korean People's Army soldiers when they return from the frontlines of the Russia-Ukraine War?
Under the DPRK's system of governance, there isn't a straightforward answer for the Kim Jong Un regime.
I offer insight in my latest for NK News⬇️ www.nknews.org/pro/how-nort...
Under the DPRK's system of governance, there isn't a straightforward answer for the Kim Jong Un regime.
I offer insight in my latest for NK News⬇️ www.nknews.org/pro/how-nort...
What should we make of the Coalition of the Willing security guarantees?
BLUF: Excellent in principle, but hinges on political will being converted into binding commitments & sustained resourcing amidst Russian recalcitrance.
More here via the @kyivpost.com ⬇️
www.kyivpost.com/opinion/67682
BLUF: Excellent in principle, but hinges on political will being converted into binding commitments & sustained resourcing amidst Russian recalcitrance.
More here via the @kyivpost.com ⬇️
www.kyivpost.com/opinion/67682
Opinion: What Should We Make of the Coalition of the Willing Security Guarantees?
On paper, the guarantees are a step ahead. But success will hinge on whether political will can overcome the many built-in stumbling blocks that Moscow has been trying to exploit.
www.kyivpost.com
January 8, 2026 at 10:07 PM
What should we make of the Coalition of the Willing security guarantees?
BLUF: Excellent in principle, but hinges on political will being converted into binding commitments & sustained resourcing amidst Russian recalcitrance.
More here via the @kyivpost.com ⬇️
www.kyivpost.com/opinion/67682
BLUF: Excellent in principle, but hinges on political will being converted into binding commitments & sustained resourcing amidst Russian recalcitrance.
More here via the @kyivpost.com ⬇️
www.kyivpost.com/opinion/67682
What does the political landscape look like for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in 2026?
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
Takaichi’s political landscape for 2026
Unlike her predecessors who were consistently forced to address turmoil over the past two years, Prime Minister Takaichi will have time and capital to tackle real policy issues.
www.japantimes.co.jp
January 7, 2026 at 10:59 AM
What does the political landscape look like for Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in 2026?
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
I answer that question via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
How has North Korea responded to the Maduro raid?
I offer insight into the DPRK's reaction to the U.S. gambit in Venezuela in my latest for the @thediplomat.com ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2026/01/how-...
I offer insight into the DPRK's reaction to the U.S. gambit in Venezuela in my latest for the @thediplomat.com ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2026/01/how-...
How North Korea Responded to the US Gambit in Venezuela
Pyongyang was slow in issuing a relatively tempered statement, but also turned a missile launch event into a tool for deterrence signaling.
thediplomat.com
January 6, 2026 at 11:58 AM
How has North Korea responded to the Maduro raid?
I offer insight into the DPRK's reaction to the U.S. gambit in Venezuela in my latest for the @thediplomat.com ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2026/01/how-...
I offer insight into the DPRK's reaction to the U.S. gambit in Venezuela in my latest for the @thediplomat.com ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2026/01/how-...
The alleged drone attack on Putin's residence illustrates the importance of third party monitoring & verification in peace processes.
As dubious as the Kremlin's claim sounds, it will always be one side's word against the other until a third party conducts its own fact finding.
As dubious as the Kremlin's claim sounds, it will always be one side's word against the other until a third party conducts its own fact finding.
December 30, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The alleged drone attack on Putin's residence illustrates the importance of third party monitoring & verification in peace processes.
As dubious as the Kremlin's claim sounds, it will always be one side's word against the other until a third party conducts its own fact finding.
As dubious as the Kremlin's claim sounds, it will always be one side's word against the other until a third party conducts its own fact finding.
What is the status of the Korean DMZ? Who is responsible for its administration, and how does North Korea treat this buffer zone?
In my inaugural piece for NK News, I cut through the politics to offer a practical understanding of the DMZ as it exists today⬇️
www.nknews.org/pro/why-seou...
In my inaugural piece for NK News, I cut through the politics to offer a practical understanding of the DMZ as it exists today⬇️
www.nknews.org/pro/why-seou...
Why Seoul’s push for greater control over DMZ risks more than it promises | NK PRO
The frustration of some South Korean government officials with administration of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) has spilled into the open, even prompting a rare U.N. Command (UNC) press statement on the...
www.nknews.org
December 30, 2025 at 9:33 AM
What is the status of the Korean DMZ? Who is responsible for its administration, and how does North Korea treat this buffer zone?
In my inaugural piece for NK News, I cut through the politics to offer a practical understanding of the DMZ as it exists today⬇️
www.nknews.org/pro/why-seou...
In my inaugural piece for NK News, I cut through the politics to offer a practical understanding of the DMZ as it exists today⬇️
www.nknews.org/pro/why-seou...
It called to us...a taste of our former home. 네네치킨 is bite-sized nostalgia.
December 28, 2025 at 4:14 AM
It called to us...a taste of our former home. 네네치킨 is bite-sized nostalgia.
Japan's biggest threat to its populace in 2025 wasn't missiles or foreign invasions, it was bears.
The battle with the bears was notable in its own right, but it revealed deeper issues that present further challenges going forward.
More from me on this issue ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
The battle with the bears was notable in its own right, but it revealed deeper issues that present further challenges going forward.
More from me on this issue ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
Japan’s growing bear crisis reveals deeper issues
Currently, there are only around 220,000 licensed hunters in Japan, substantially lower than the 532,265 registered in 1970.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 26, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Japan's biggest threat to its populace in 2025 wasn't missiles or foreign invasions, it was bears.
The battle with the bears was notable in its own right, but it revealed deeper issues that present further challenges going forward.
More from me on this issue ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
The battle with the bears was notable in its own right, but it revealed deeper issues that present further challenges going forward.
More from me on this issue ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
What is happening to the black markets in North Korea?
In my latest for The Diplomat, I explain the origin and importance of the jangmadang free markets before detailing what the Kim Jong Un regime has done since COVID to uproot them.
Read more here⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/what...
In my latest for The Diplomat, I explain the origin and importance of the jangmadang free markets before detailing what the Kim Jong Un regime has done since COVID to uproot them.
Read more here⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/what...
What is Happening to North Korea’s Jangmadang Free Markets?
Will the Kim regime be successful in uprooting this core element of North Korea’s black market economy?
thediplomat.com
December 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
What is happening to the black markets in North Korea?
In my latest for The Diplomat, I explain the origin and importance of the jangmadang free markets before detailing what the Kim Jong Un regime has done since COVID to uproot them.
Read more here⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/what...
In my latest for The Diplomat, I explain the origin and importance of the jangmadang free markets before detailing what the Kim Jong Un regime has done since COVID to uproot them.
Read more here⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/what...
It does not take much to trigger a security crisis between countries.
China nearly got one with Japan owing to the reckless behavior of its forces. Beijing's bad-faith behavior requires Tokyo & its partners to show solidarity.
I explain via the Japan Times⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
China nearly got one with Japan owing to the reckless behavior of its forces. Beijing's bad-faith behavior requires Tokyo & its partners to show solidarity.
I explain via the Japan Times⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
China’s recklessness risks a security crisis with Japan
China’s normalization of reckless and bullying behavior presents major risks to peace and security.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 23, 2025 at 10:34 AM
It does not take much to trigger a security crisis between countries.
China nearly got one with Japan owing to the reckless behavior of its forces. Beijing's bad-faith behavior requires Tokyo & its partners to show solidarity.
I explain via the Japan Times⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
China nearly got one with Japan owing to the reckless behavior of its forces. Beijing's bad-faith behavior requires Tokyo & its partners to show solidarity.
I explain via the Japan Times⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
Leaving this here: not even Kim Jong Un named his navy's new class of vessels after himself.
(Left) Trump-class "battleship"
(Right) Choe Hyon-class destroyer
(Left) Trump-class "battleship"
(Right) Choe Hyon-class destroyer
December 22, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Leaving this here: not even Kim Jong Un named his navy's new class of vessels after himself.
(Left) Trump-class "battleship"
(Right) Choe Hyon-class destroyer
(Left) Trump-class "battleship"
(Right) Choe Hyon-class destroyer
Want to know more about #Japan's planned "National Intelligence Bureau?"
I lay it out--the background, the proposal, and the challenges for implementation--via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
I lay it out--the background, the proposal, and the challenges for implementation--via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
What will Japan’s planned intelligence bureau look like?
Ultimately, this is an evolutionary measure that seeks to break down government intelligence silos and improve the information being provided to the highest levels of government.
www.japantimes.co.jp
December 16, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Want to know more about #Japan's planned "National Intelligence Bureau?"
I lay it out--the background, the proposal, and the challenges for implementation--via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
I lay it out--the background, the proposal, and the challenges for implementation--via the @japantimes.co.jp ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
With #NorthKorea's 9th Party Congress forthcoming, I'll be posting information to help make sense of this important event.
Day 1:
• What is a "Party Congress" in North Korea?
• Plenum vs. Congress vs. Conference
If you find this content useful, please like, follow, & share!
Day 1:
• What is a "Party Congress" in North Korea?
• Plenum vs. Congress vs. Conference
If you find this content useful, please like, follow, & share!
December 14, 2025 at 10:23 PM
With #NorthKorea's 9th Party Congress forthcoming, I'll be posting information to help make sense of this important event.
Day 1:
• What is a "Party Congress" in North Korea?
• Plenum vs. Congress vs. Conference
If you find this content useful, please like, follow, & share!
Day 1:
• What is a "Party Congress" in North Korea?
• Plenum vs. Congress vs. Conference
If you find this content useful, please like, follow, & share!
As a #negotiator, whenever someone asked me what should be done about #NorthKorea’s nuclear weapons program, my first question to them was, “What is your biggest fear about #DPRK nukes?”
I explain why in my latest for Parley Policy⬇️ www.parleypolicy.com/post/the-six...
I explain why in my latest for Parley Policy⬇️ www.parleypolicy.com/post/the-six...
The six fears associated with North Korean nukes
What are the fears that drive policies towards North Korean denuclearization? Understanding these fears is essential for developing policy designs and approaches to negotiation with the Kim Jong Un re...
www.parleypolicy.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
As a #negotiator, whenever someone asked me what should be done about #NorthKorea’s nuclear weapons program, my first question to them was, “What is your biggest fear about #DPRK nukes?”
I explain why in my latest for Parley Policy⬇️ www.parleypolicy.com/post/the-six...
I explain why in my latest for Parley Policy⬇️ www.parleypolicy.com/post/the-six...
What should we make of #LeeJaeMyung's 2 December policy pronouncement on #NorthKorea & inter-Korean initiatives?
I answer that question in my latest for The Diplomat ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/lee-...
I answer that question in my latest for The Diplomat ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/lee-...
Lee Jae-myung’s Latest Policy Signals to North Korea
Lee has downgraded “denuclearization” as a goal. Will it be enough to attract interest from Pyongyang?
thediplomat.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:51 PM
What should we make of #LeeJaeMyung's 2 December policy pronouncement on #NorthKorea & inter-Korean initiatives?
I answer that question in my latest for The Diplomat ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/lee-...
I answer that question in my latest for The Diplomat ⬇️
thediplomat.com/2025/12/lee-...
📣Announcement:
I find it fitting that my ceremonial last day with the UN Command Military Armistice Commission falls on Veteran's Day/Armistice Day. Here, I share my thoughts about the past 6 years in Korea and offer insight into what comes next for me⬇️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/leavin...
I find it fitting that my ceremonial last day with the UN Command Military Armistice Commission falls on Veteran's Day/Armistice Day. Here, I share my thoughts about the past 6 years in Korea and offer insight into what comes next for me⬇️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/leavin...
On leaving the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission
The time has come: six and a quarter years after starting my work as the Deputy Secretary of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission (UNCMAC), I now say farewell to my teammates and t...
www.linkedin.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:42 AM
📣Announcement:
I find it fitting that my ceremonial last day with the UN Command Military Armistice Commission falls on Veteran's Day/Armistice Day. Here, I share my thoughts about the past 6 years in Korea and offer insight into what comes next for me⬇️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/leavin...
I find it fitting that my ceremonial last day with the UN Command Military Armistice Commission falls on Veteran's Day/Armistice Day. Here, I share my thoughts about the past 6 years in Korea and offer insight into what comes next for me⬇️
www.linkedin.com/pulse/leavin...
PM Sanae #Takaichi made headlines when she mentioned that #Japan could declare a "Survival Threatening Situation" in the event of a #Taiwan contingency.
What does that mean?
Here's an evergreen explainer I wrote a while back to make sense of it all:
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021...
What does that mean?
Here's an evergreen explainer I wrote a while back to make sense of it all:
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021...
What can Japan do in a Taiwan-China clash?
In the “two-plus-two” meeting that took place last week, the Japanese and U.S. governments unequivocally called out China, highlighting the country's unilateral and unlawful attempts to change the sta...
www.japantimes.co.jp
November 9, 2025 at 3:17 AM
PM Sanae #Takaichi made headlines when she mentioned that #Japan could declare a "Survival Threatening Situation" in the event of a #Taiwan contingency.
What does that mean?
Here's an evergreen explainer I wrote a while back to make sense of it all:
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021...
What does that mean?
Here's an evergreen explainer I wrote a while back to make sense of it all:
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2021...
There has been some media attention on the fact that newly minted PM #Takaichi has been heckled during her #Diet addresses.
I'm no fan of the practice, but it's commonplace, along with a few other odd behaviors.
I explained more in an evergreen piece here ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020...
I'm no fan of the practice, but it's commonplace, along with a few other odd behaviors.
I explained more in an evergreen piece here ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020...
Ox walking, heckling and other strange Diet practices
Understanding Japanese politics, as with many things in Japanese society, is often an exercise of scratching beneath the surface to discover the true meaning.
www.japantimes.co.jp
November 4, 2025 at 8:32 AM
There has been some media attention on the fact that newly minted PM #Takaichi has been heckled during her #Diet addresses.
I'm no fan of the practice, but it's commonplace, along with a few other odd behaviors.
I explained more in an evergreen piece here ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020...
I'm no fan of the practice, but it's commonplace, along with a few other odd behaviors.
I explained more in an evergreen piece here ⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020...
Not every day you have to rescue a feral #kitten from a ditch, but the poor thing was trapped under a heap of chaff and crying out for help.
Took a little while to get the burrs and brambles off, but he's right as rain now and back home with his litter.
Took a little while to get the burrs and brambles off, but he's right as rain now and back home with his litter.
November 2, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Not every day you have to rescue a feral #kitten from a ditch, but the poor thing was trapped under a heap of chaff and crying out for help.
Took a little while to get the burrs and brambles off, but he's right as rain now and back home with his litter.
Took a little while to get the burrs and brambles off, but he's right as rain now and back home with his litter.
At first glance, deploying 2 people for a 1 month training mission doesn't seem like a big deal.
However, the SDF's participation in the #demining capability #coalition for #Ukraine is another milestone in #Japan's evolving security practice.
More here⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
However, the SDF's participation in the #demining capability #coalition for #Ukraine is another milestone in #Japan's evolving security practice.
More here⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
Japan’s demining deployment is a security milestone
This deployment is the latest in demining support that Japan has delivered to Ukraine since Russia’s full scale invasion began in February 2022.
www.japantimes.co.jp
October 31, 2025 at 10:38 PM
At first glance, deploying 2 people for a 1 month training mission doesn't seem like a big deal.
However, the SDF's participation in the #demining capability #coalition for #Ukraine is another milestone in #Japan's evolving security practice.
More here⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
However, the SDF's participation in the #demining capability #coalition for #Ukraine is another milestone in #Japan's evolving security practice.
More here⬇️
www.japantimes.co.jp/commentary/2...
#Protip: whenever you are stumped while doing any kind of analysis, stop and deliberately take stock of what you know and what you don't.
It is helpful to approach the problem like you're putting together a puzzle but you don't have all the pieces, and you don't...
It is helpful to approach the problem like you're putting together a puzzle but you don't have all the pieces, and you don't...
October 29, 2025 at 12:28 PM
#Protip: whenever you are stumped while doing any kind of analysis, stop and deliberately take stock of what you know and what you don't.
It is helpful to approach the problem like you're putting together a puzzle but you don't have all the pieces, and you don't...
It is helpful to approach the problem like you're putting together a puzzle but you don't have all the pieces, and you don't...
#Japan's Ministry of Defense has begun coordination for deployment of Self Defense Forces to respond to the country's mounting #bear attacks (news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/n...)
In recent years, the number of bear-related incidents has increased significantly, and the current death count for...
In recent years, the number of bear-related incidents has increased significantly, and the current death count for...
クマ被害深刻の秋田県 自衛隊が派遣に向けた調整 県と開始 | NHKニュース
【NHK】クマによる深刻な被害を受けて、秋田県の鈴木知事が28日午前に防衛省を訪れ、小泉防衛大臣に自衛隊の支援を求めました。これを
news.web.nhk
October 28, 2025 at 12:06 PM
#Japan's Ministry of Defense has begun coordination for deployment of Self Defense Forces to respond to the country's mounting #bear attacks (news.web.nhk/newsweb/na/n...)
In recent years, the number of bear-related incidents has increased significantly, and the current death count for...
In recent years, the number of bear-related incidents has increased significantly, and the current death count for...