In The News

Chinese President Xi Jinping Expresses Concern Over North Korea’s Rhetoric

William Wan April 10, 2013
Global consensus is that China holds the most leverage over the Kim regime. As tensions rise, the international community follows every word from top leaders, especially those in China. While not specifically mentioning North Korea, President Xi Jinping noted, “No one should be allowed to throw a region and even the whole world into chaos for selfish gains.” International scrutiny should...

WMD Proliferation Threatens the World

Carol E. B. Choksy, Jamsheed K. Choksy April 5, 2013
Forces battling in Syria accuse each other of discharging chemical weapons; the United States and North Korea shift equipment about, raising the threat of nuclear exchange. The globe has many accords to curtail weapons of mass destruction. Yet most are “are trumped by influence-peddling, profit-seeking and ideology-spreading considerations,” explain Carol E.B. Choksy and Jamsheed K. Choksy, who...

Should South Korea Pursue Nuclear Arms?

Bennett Ramberg March 29, 2013
South Korea and the United States confront a dilemma in responding to erratic threats from impoverished, nuclear-armed North Korea. South Korea ranks among the top 15 largest economies, while the North is dysfunctional. In recent weeks North Korea has test-launched a long-range missile, criticized China’s response to the launch, severed all communications with South Korea, and threatened...

No Shift in Iran's Nuclear Behavior, Despite Sanctions

Joby Warrick, Anne Gearan March 21, 2013
Sanctions have hurt the Iranian economy, but may have also strengthened leaders’ resolve to defy the US and Europe by pursuing a uranium-enrichment program. “[H]ardships have not triggered significant domestic protests or produced a single concession by Iran on its nuclear program,” report Joby Warrick and Anne Gearan for the Washington Post. “Although weakened, Iran has resisted Western...

Annoyed, China Sticks With North Korea

Nayan Chanda March 11, 2013
In 1961, China and North Korea signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance, committing either party to come to the aid of the other if attacked. China has since been doling out food and energy aid despite North Korea regularly issuing threats to South Korea and the US, as well as repeatedly defying UN resolutions on nuclear and missile tests. In a departure from past...

Kim Blows Up Again

March 8, 2013
Managing North Korea – isolated, dysfunctional, belligerent – is a pressing challenge, particularly for immediate neighbors South Korea and China. Another set of tough sanctions against North Korea for its February nuclear test have been imposed by the United Nations, and North Korea has responded with a threat to disregard the 1953 armistice that ended the Korean War. Joint US–South Korean...

N Korea Sets Stark Policy Test for China

Leslie Hook February 13, 2013
International observers had hoped that the Kim Jong Un, North Korea’s leader since 2011, would be less belligerent and more open to cooperation with neighboring countries. Instead, the country has launched a nuclear test, in violation of international law, once again challenging China, its key ally: “[T]he relationship has started to fray after a series of diplomatic snubs by Pyongyang since [Un...