In The News

Perilous Journeys: The Plight of North Koreans in China and Beyond

October 27, 2006
One reason for the stalemate over North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is because neighboring nations fear a rush of desperate refugees from the country of 23 million people. The International Crisis Group reports that a record number of North Koreans headed to South Korea this year to escape the brutal political control and isolation of Kim Jong Il, which has led to famine, censorship and...

China Gets Tough With North Korea

Susan L. Shirk October 26, 2006
Destitute and isolated, North Korea is a desperate state. The nation may have nuclear weapons, but survives only with economic aid from China and South Korea. Despite many provocations, China has been steadfast in refusing to penalize North Korea. But a North Korean nuclear test in early October, despite Chinese warnings against conducting it, proved too much. China surprised the world by siding...

US and China Urge North Korea to Return to Talks

Thom Shanker October 20, 2006
Both China and the US call for North Korea to return to Six-Party Talks and hash out a plan to end North Korean nuclear research. The US secretary of state traveled to Japan, China, South Korea and Russia, urging a multilateral effort in putting a halt to any attempt by North Korea to trade nuclear wares. China, once reticent about imposing harsh measures on its destitute neighbor, has...

Sensible Ideas on Why to Engage Tehran

Rami G. Khouri October 17, 2006
Since the end of the Cold War, the US has led the international effort to encourage global security and nonproliferation of nuclear weapons. The US unabashedly has used regime change and an array of diplomacy to promote arms control and democracy. But the tools have failed when it comes to Iran and North Korea and their nuclear programs. Even the most hawkish voter in Texas understands the US...

Technical Perspective on North Korea’s Nuclear Test

October 12, 2006
The news that North Korea had successfully tested a nuclear weapon on Monday morning shocked the world. Estimates about the size of the explosion ranged wildly, with some reporting a half-kiloton blast to others guessing that it was much larger. The key questions are: did the test go as planned, and is there likely to be another soon? Dr. Gi-Wook Hin of Stanford sat down with Dr. Siegfried Hecker...

N. Korea Links Next Move to U.S. Policy

Choe Sang-Hun October 11, 2006
While Western governments wonder whether the weak blast was indeed what North Korea claimed to be a nuclear test, Pyongyang has issued threat of further testing. In an interview, Kim Yong Nam, president of the North Korea's legislature, has warned that future testing is contingent upon the attitude of the US. If the US were to impose global sanctions, he claims "we will have no choice...

North Korea’s Nuclear Gamble

Shim Jae Hoon October 10, 2006
A nuclear test by North Korea has plunged East Asia in a new crisis and brought worldwide condemnation, the strongest being from Japan. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe supports drafting a resolution calling for tougher sanctions under Chapter 7 of the UN Charter, which authorizes the use of military force should North Korea disregard the UN. Although highly critical of North Korea, China,...