In The News

Pyongyang's Aims Hidden by Veil of Rhetoric

Andrew Ward February 5, 2003
North Korea, often referred to as “the world’s most secretive state”, is distrusted by both South Korea and the United States, who point to the country’s extensive anti-American propaganda within its borders as well as its deceptive statements to outsiders. Even its action are difficult to judge, as some U.S. intelligence officials believe Pyongyang's recent apparent moves to re-start a...

EU Must Face Up to a Fractured Future

Anatol Lieven February 2, 2003
Despite repeated protests against American unilateralism, European Union leaders may have to reconcile themselves to the idea that they will be unable to prevent the Bush administration from waging war in Iraq. While the oft-cited “Transatlantic gap” has yet to materialize, the power gap between the United States and Europe has never been more real. As this opinion explores, without a drastic...

To China, North Korea Looks Radioactive

Joseph Kahn February 2, 2003
China’s reluctance to negotiate directly with North Korea about its nuclear program has surprised the Bush administration and Chinese foreign policy experts. China’s interests could be seriously threatened if North Korea is not dissuaded from building nuclear weapons. Such a buildup in North Korea could shift the balance of power in the region, should surrounding nations like Japan revive their...

Crisis Over Saddam a Huge Test for Europe

Doug Bandow January 31, 2003
The leaders of France and Germany both threaten to veto a UN Security Council war resolution. Such a veto could deal a significant blow to the United States’ legitimacy in pursuing war. For the United States to take that threat seriously, however, France and Germany must develop what is now ambiguous opposition into real action and support from other like-minded nations. Otherwise, Doug Bandow...

Satellites Said to See Activity at North Korean Nuclear Site

David E. Sanger January 31, 2003
It seems the fear of many analysts about North Korea is coming true. On January 28 a YaleGlobal article raised the possibility that North Korea may be rushing to reprocess its 8,000 rods of spent fuel into weapons-grade plutonium and that it could even be done without being observed by spy satellite. Today this new article in the New York Times quotes US intelligence sources as saying that "...

Cash Went North; 'Why' Not Clear

Lee Sang-il January 31, 2003
An investigation in Seoul is casting some shadow on a Nobel Peace prize winner. Government investigators in Seoul have discovered that the South Korean government transferred $200 million to North Korea before the historic summit meeting between the two countries' leaders, Kim Jong Il and Kim Dae Jung, in June 2000. The same year, Kim Dae Jung was awarded the Nobel prize for his role in...

Global Spread of Democracy Poses New Challenge for the US

Donald K. Emmerson January 29, 2003
The globalization of democracy, long a staple of American foreign policy, has created nations who no longer are willing to simply follow the lead of the United States in foreign affairs. In such a global environment, the United States finds itself acting in an increasingly undemocratic manner, pursuing actions that run contrary to the wishes of the international majority. To be fair, it must be...