In The News

The Japan Times: North Korea ICBM Poses “Global Threat”

Jesse Johnson July 5, 2017
North Korea claims to have tested an intercontinental ballistic missile capable of reaching up to 6500 kilometers, a range stretching as far as Alaska, Beijing, Hong Kong or even New Delhi. The test was conducted while the United States was celebrating a holiday celebrating the nation’s independence. North Korean leaders view development of such weapons, capable of carrying nuclear warheads, as...

IRIN News: The Real Crisis in North Korea

Gianluca Spezza May 31, 2017
The international community focuses on North Korea’s expanding nuclear capability. The narrow focus, largely due to the dictatorship’s secrecy and closed economy, overlooks North Korean citizens, explains Gianluca Spezza for IRIN News Agency. Spezza points out that Kim Jong Un, while brutal, does not wield the influence of his father or grandfather, adding that “Security apparatuses are no longer...

Asia Sentinel: Pyongyang Finds an Ally in Moscow

Alessandra Colarizi April 6, 2017
US President Donald Trump said to Financial Times, “If China is not going to solve North Korea, we will.” Trump may be one step behind as North Korea increasingly turns to Russia for support. “Gone are the days when Beijing was by far the Democratic People’s Republic’s most reliable partner,” reports Alessandra Colarizi for Asia Sentinel. “And although China accounts for 90 percent of North Korea...

Reuters: US, Britain, France, Others Skip Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty Talks

Michelle Nichols March 28, 2017
About 40 countries are declining to join UN talks for a nuclear weapons ban treaty and remain committed to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, in force since 1970. A French ambassador argued that global security conditions are not right for such a ban, and the US ambassador to the UN questioned if anyone believed that rogue nations like North Korea would agree to such a ban. “The Trump administration...

To Confront North Korea, Talk First and Get Tough Later

William J. Perry January 9, 2017
North Korea borders China, South Korea and Russia, respectively the world’s second, eleventh and twelfth largest economies, and the nation is a few hundred miles away from Japan, third largest economy. North Korea’s nuclear program and erratic leadership could trigger war and economic crisis. The nation is signaling that its intercontinental ballistic missile program is a priority, explains...

Chaos Theory of Donald Trump: Sowing Confusion Through Tweets

John Wagner and Abby Phillip December 27, 2016
US President-elect Donald Trump follows a pattern, confounding global media and world leaders with provocative statements on Twitter, at rallies or during television programs. His staff then attempts to reassure the public with interpretations and insistence that social media messages do not reflect official policy. “But nothing has created more consternation for many foreign policy experts than...

Abe to Seek Cuba’s Help Over North Korea and Boost Trade

Ayako Mie September 21, 2016
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making an unprecedented trip to Cuba off the heels of North Korea’s fifth nuclear test and the UN General Assembly. Cuba has been an ally of North Korea, while Japan and North Korea have strained relations due to the abduction of Japanese citizens and the potential for a close-range nuclear attack. Increased investment in Cuba reflects a larger pattern in...