In The News

Threat Erodes Japan’s Pacifism

Doug Struck February 15, 2003
After decades of constitutional restrictions on offensive forces, Japan has reopened a national debate about the military. As part of its surrender after World War II, Japan agreed to dismantle its armed forces and since then has largely relied on the United States for military support. In the past few months, however, nervous defense ministers have quietly begun to rebuild the military in...

North Korean Threat Exaggerated

Ivan Oelrich February 14, 2003
Current American assumptions of North Korean missile capabilities are based upon the monitoring of North Korean missile tests, and scientist Ivan Oelrich believes that it is incorrect to make the assumption that North Korean missiles could reach the United States. North Korea has yet to demonstrate this capability, and looking at its known missiles, will find it very difficult to obtain such...

Atom Agency Finds Pyongyang in Violation of Arms Accords

James Dao February 12, 2003
At the U.S.’s behest, the International Atomic Energy Agency has now found North Korea in violation of international nuclear weapons agreements. The Agency has sent the issue to the United Nations Security Council for review and to determine the appropriate action, which could include economic sanctions against North Korea. While China supports the U.S. initiative, Russia opposes it, saying...

Escaping North Korea’s Nuclear Trap

Nancy Soderberg February 12, 2003
Nancy Soderberg, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, reviews the history of U.S. negotiations with North Korea over its nuclear program. In each case, direct negotiations have led to North Korean compliance, suggesting that the Bush administration’s most viable option in resolving the current crisis is to negotiate bilaterally with North Korea once again, and offer incentives such...

China Maneuvers to Bring a Soft-landing to the Korean Crisis

Yu Bin February 11, 2003
China is in no position to tell North Korea what to do regarding the current nuclear crisis. Since the end of the Korean War in 1953, Beijing's relations with Pyongyang have soured. At the same time, China has cultivated political and economic relations with both South Korea and the United States. But, as Yu Bin, the author of a book on China's role in the Korean War, explains, China...

Don't ignore 'North Korea Effect'

William Pesek Jr. February 11, 2003
In this commentary in Singapore's Straits Times, William Pesek Jr. argues that "The West may be preoccupied with Iraq, but those who ignore risks from North Korea could be hit on the blind side by declining Asian markets." The 'North Korea Effect' he describes anticipates North Korea developing and testing nuclear weapons, setting off an economic chain reaction. A...

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...