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...

Beijing Hosts Big Africa Summit as West Watches

Shai Oster October 25, 2006
China has made no secret of its interest in Africa. Now the nation will host a lavish summit for the leaders of 48 African nations. One assistant foreign minister fends off criticism about China’s motives, pointing out that the nation pursues mutual interests with Africa in a transparent and open manner. “China has nothing to hide,” said Zhai Jun. Western oil companies have expressed some...

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...

China Returns to Africa

Paul Kennedy October 16, 2006
In the early 15th century, the Chinese Admiral Zheng He made a series of naval expeditions, traveling as far as East Africa, bringing back ivory, gold, and even a few giraffes. Shortly after the expeditions, the Ming Dynasty banned the masted, seagoing craft, initiating a period of voluntary isolation that lasted for almost 600 years. Yet recently, China’s economic policies have turned back...

Tussle Over a Vanished Kingdom

Choe Sang-Hun October 16, 2006
The region known as Koguryo, spanning modern Mancuria and parts of North Korea and Siberia, was once a powerful nation in the Far East many centuries ago. The name “Korea” is based on the region’s name, and many Koreans take pride in historical feats of ancient warriors battling foes, ranging from ferocious tigers to invading Chinese. So alarm bells went off in South Korea after Chinese...

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...