Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** Oct. 24, 2024
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A Russia–North Korea Alliance?
Yesterday, U.S. officials confirmed that North Korean troops were deployed to Russia to support the Kremlin's war in Ukraine.
According to RAND's Bruce Bennett, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is likely exchanging troops for more-advanced military technologies from Russia. If these troops suffer heavy casualties abroad, then that could lead to instability for Kim's regime at home. Such volatility would also pose a risk to South Korean security.
This dramatic news is the latest of many recent developments to signal growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. So, what should one make of this warming relationship?
Earlier this month, Bennett wrote at length about Russia–North Korea relations. The partnership is more likely a marriage of convenience--or desperation--than a long-term alliance. Russia appears to have pursued the relationship because it was desperate to meet needs for its invasion of Ukraine. And North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is desperate for food and other resources.
One way the United States could undermine this new cooperation, Bennett wrote, is to conduct major information operations. Such efforts could highlight differences between Russia and North Korea, fuel distrust, and, eventually, help speed the demise of this potentially fragile partnership.
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Why Sinwar's Death Matters
Last week, Israel Defense Forces killed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the southern Gaza Strip. What does this mean for the future of the Israel-Hamas war? It won't halt the fighting in Gaza, says RAND's Raphael Cohen, but it does impact the conflict in a few key ways. For instance, Israel will likely continue to shift its focus away from Hamas and toward Hezbollah and Iran. This, more than anything else, shows why Sinwar's death matters. "The Israel-Hamas conflict is not just a war against a militant group," Cohen says. Rather, "it has become a proxy for a host of other competing geopolitical forces shaping the Middle East and, indeed, the globe."
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The Complexities of Abortion Access for Minors in Virginia
Abortion care in Virginia is legal and accessible, compared with the landscape in many surrounding states. But like 35 other states, Virginia mandates that minors seeking an abortion involve their parents, guardians, or other adult family members. Evidence from a recent RAND study suggests that such rules may have burdensome implications for providers and patients. And according to RAND's Julia Rollison, lead author of the study, this law is in stark contrast to legal protections for minors seeking pregnancy care. In Virginia, they have the right to receive prenatal and labor and delivery care without notifying a parent. "What Virginia has now is a legal paradox," Rollison says.
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** Events
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Racial and Socioeconomic Divides in Algebra Teaching and Learning
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 (Online)
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Addressing Imploding Health Care Systems: Is Primary Care Reform Really the Answer?
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 (Online)
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Expert Views on State-Level Policies for Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
Thursday, November 14, 2024 (Online)
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Are you a graduate student? Do you want to help tackle the world's toughest policy problems? Applications for our Summer Associate Program are now open. Apply by December 2nd for an opportunity to spend summer 2025 at RAND.
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