Academic CV
Dr. Christopher Richardson
Bachelor of Arts (Honours, 1st Class), University of Sydney, 2005
Master of International Security Studies (with Merit), University of Sydney, 2011
PhD, North Korean Studies, University of Sydney, 2016
Master of Teaching (Secondary), University of New England, 2023
Novel
Empire of the Waves (Penguin, 2015)
Lectures
“North Korea as Fragile State?” for CISS6006 Statebuilding & ‘Fragile States’, University of Sydney, 2012 — 2016
“Introduction to the DPRK,” for ARTS3756 Development in Asia, University of New South Wales, 2016
“Violence & the North Korean Child,” for ASIA1030 Asia & the Pacific in Motion, Australian National University, 2015
“DPRK: Development Without Democracy,” for GOVT2611 Capitalism & Democracy in East Asia, University of Sydney, 2015
“Children of the North: An Introduction to the Children’s Culture of the DPRK,” for INTR12-210 East-West International Diplomacy, Bond University, 2014 — 2015
Conference Appearances
“The Book of Beasts: Animal and Human Nature in Children’s Literature,” Cross-Cultural Understanding Through Children’s Literature Between Australia and Korea, Seoul (via Zoom), 2020
“Christian Connections in Asia,” Asian Studies Association of Australia, University of Sydney, 2018
“Disruption, Taint, Redemption: Violence & the North Korean Child,” World Congress of Korean Studies, University of Hawaii, 2014
“North Korean Voices in Exile,” Leiden University, 2014
“Visual Storytelling for Children in the DPRK,” Visual Storytelling Symposium, University of New England, Armidale, 2014
“An Introduction to North Korean Children’s Literature,” Korean Studies Association of Australasia, Australian National University, 2013
“Still King of the Country? Childhood Policies & Practices in the DPRK: A Snapshot of 2012”, Korean Studies Association of Australasia, Australian National University, 2012
Public Talks
“North Korea: From Revolution to the Rocket Man,” Balmain Institute, Sydney, 2018
Academic Publications
“Book Review: Figuring Korean Futures: Children’s Literature in Modern Korea,” European Journal of Korean Studies, 18, no. 1 (2018).
“Still Quite Fun to Read: An Introduction to North Korean Children’s Literature,” International Review of Korean Studies 10, no. 1 (2013): 117–136.
Key Online Publications
“Plagues & Peoples in Korea, I: The Visitation,” Sino-NK, 2 November 2021
“Irresistible Rise? Brecht’s V‑Effekt from The Threepenny Opera to Watchmen,” 19 May 2021.
“North Korean Childhood?: An Interview with Dr Christopher Richardson,” North Korean Review Online, 2020
“Revolution and Revival: Ideology and Faith in North Korea,” Sino-NK, 23 June 2017.
“Volcano on the Horizon: Thae Yong-ho and the Politics of Speech,” Sino-NK, 29 March 2017
“A Master Class in the Scholarly Treatment of Defector Voices,” Sino-NK, 27 November 2015
“Narrative & Empire: Visions of the Past, Visions of the Future,” Sino-NK, 13 July 2015
“Be Prepared! Reflections On the North Korean Children’s Union,” Sino-NK, 13 June 2013
Selected Media Appearances
Natalya Portyakova, Кто, если не Ким: кому приписывают будущее лидерство в КНДР, Izvestia, 26 April 2020. (In Russian)
Elizabeth Shim, “Kim Jong Un Struggling Against South Korea Influence,” UPI, 2 April 2020.
Cátia Bruno, “Uma criança com fome não consegue pensar em política ou liberdade: A realidade dura da infância na Coreia do Norte,” Observador (Lisbon), 27 February 2019.
“Life & Work of Edward Lear,” Interview with Lish Fejer, ABC Radio Canberra, Sunday Brunch, 23 July 2017.
“What does a children’s story by Kim Jong-il tell us about North Korea?” Interview with Dan Damon, BBC World Service, World Update, 20 January 2014
“North Korea’s Storytelling Autocrats,” Interview with Alison Gee, BBC News Magazine, 19 February 2014
“North Korean dictators revealed as children’s authors” Interview with Alison Flood, The Guardian (London), 13 March 2014
“Children’s Culture in North Korea,” Interview with Kurt Achin, NKNews.org, 9 May 2014.
“Images of North Korean Children’s Lit,” Video Interview with Kurt Achin, NKNews.org, 26 May 2014.
“Behind the Tweed: Literature for DPRK kids,” Interview with Rebecca Huntley, ABC Radio National, 4 July 2014.