Intervention in Libya, which forfeited its nuclear weapons, has made North Korea more convinced than ever that it needs to hold on to its own nukes.
How to Break the Deadlock With North Korea
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North Korea
Contested Waters – Contested Texts: Storm over Korea’s West Sea
This is the story of a text, which was briefly posted at The Asia Pacific Journal on 6 February, and almost immediately (within hours) withdrawn. The author was Kim Man-bok, who from November 2006 to January 2008 was Director of the South Korean National Intelligence Service (Korean CIA) under the Government of President Roh Moo-hyun. His text was entitled “Let Us Turn Korea’s West Sea (the Sea of Dispute) into a Sea of Peace and Prosperity.”
Negotiating with Evil
Given the title of this week’s World Beat, perhaps you expected an essay on North Korea or another vilified U.S. adversary and violator of all human decency.
Actually, I was referring to Jon Kyl. Those who dismiss the value of negotiating with North Korea insist that the country makes unreasonable demands, never has any intention of compromising, and violates any agreement that it ultimately signs. Funny, this sounds a lot like the hard-line Republicans in the last Congress.
Resolving the Face-Off in Korea
Seconds before I appeared on Al-Jazeera International Sunday night, the producer informed me that South Korea, despite pleas from both Russia and China to cancel the live fire artillery drills, had in fact started the exercises. Having been to North Korea several times, and knowing how their worldview centers on the right to defend their sovereignty, I feared the worst.
South Korea: Seeking Reunification by Live Fire?
Rather than waiting patiently for reunification to take place through negotiations, South Korea’s Lee Myoung-bak administration wants to accelerate the process, by force if necessary.
WikiLeaks XII: If It Had Its Druthers, Would North Korea Take the U.S. Over China?
North Korea may feel that the time has come to establish relations with the United States as a hedge against unpredictable future relations with Beijing.
Transparency Fundamentalists
WikiLeaks puts the government through a full body scanner to reveal many dirty secrets. U.S. officials, not surprisingly, have responded with anger. They don’t want their “junk” exposed or touched. No one, from emperors to excursionists, likes to be naked in public. And the latest revelations are the most intrusive yet.
60-Second Expert: The Cheonan Incident
Despite the publication of the Joint Investigation Group’s definitive account of the sinking of the South Korean naval corvette, Cheonan, the South Korean public remains skeptical over its conclusion. Opposition politicians, academics, and members of the scientific community have pointed to flaws in the final report, which damage its credibility and throw doubt on its findings.
Joint U.S.-South Korean Military Exercises in Yellow Sea Raise the Ante
North Korean motives for attacking Yeonpyeong Island remain unclear, but U.S. South Korean military exercises run the risk of escalating the situation.
Turning Stuxnet to More Constructive Ends
If responsible for the computer worm, there’s a less controversial end to which Israel can put it than Iran’s nuclear program.