North Korea has made the news frequently during the past year, first with missile tests and then with a charm offensive. Some commentators doubt the sincerity of this upsurge in diplomatic gestures that the hermit kingdom recently extended to both South Korea and the United States.
After a failed April 5th satellite launch, a May 25th underground nuclear detonation, and July 4th ballistic missile tests, North Korea claims peaceful motives.
Having detained Asian-American journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee in March and then sentencing them to 12 years of hard labor, Kim Jong-il waited for Bill Clinton's 20-hour August 4th visit to free the captive reporters.
Northeast Asia moves ever-so-slowly towards a conclusive end to the Korean War, which concluded with a mere armistice agreement in 1953. But North Korea refuses to resume six-party talks that could facilitate a viable peace treaty. Will South Korea, along with Russia, China, and Japan, move towards full reunification of the Koreas? And will the U.S. pursue better relations with the world's most isolated country?
Worldfocus explores the geopolitics of a Communist regime that exercises near total control over its population of 23 million. Multimedia producer Ben Piven recently visited North Korea, and he reports on the situation inside for the Worldfocus six-part multimedia series Inside the Hermit Kingdom
North Korea threatens to attack if ships searched
South Korea is prepared to join with the United States and search North Korean ships suspected of carrying weapons of mass destruction. North Korea responded with new threats. Abraham Denmark of the Center for a New American Security discusses how North Korea and South Korea match up militarily.
North Korea pushes further toward global confrontation
North Korea has pushed itself even further toward confrontation with major world powers after tests of a nuclear bomb and short-range missiles. Sheila A. Smith of the Council on Foreign Relations discusses the threat posed by North Korea, how countries in the region have responded and what comes next.
Japan powerless to halt North Korea’s nuclear program
Following North Korea’s recent nuclear test, a Worldfocus contributing blogger describes Japan’s response and evaluates calls for the country to develop its own nuclear weapons to bolster its defense capabilities.
Defiant North Korea conducts second nuclear test
The nuclear standoff between North Korea and the rest of the world rose to a frightening new level on Monday as North Korea conducted its second test of a nuclear explosive. Charles Armstrong of Columbia University discusses the military and political significance of the nuclear test.
North Korea sets trial date for detained U.S. journalists
North Korea said on Thursday that two American journalists arrested near the border with China will be put on trial early next month. Joel Simon of the Committee to Protect Journalists discusses the case and the plight of journalists around the world.
Week in review: Piracy, terror threats and nuclear ambitions
Carol Giacomo of The New York Times and Walter Russell Mead of the Council on Foreign Relations discuss the week's top stories: The continuing threat of piracy from Somalia's failed state, the terror threat in Britain and Europe and the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea.
U.S. urges strong response to N. Korea rocket launch
The United States said on Monday that it will continue to press the United Nations Security Council for a strong response to this weekend's rocket launch by North Korea, a rocket that President Obama said could be used for long-range missiles. Leon Sigal of the Social Science Research Council discusses the implications of the launch.
Diplomacy should trump name-calling in dealing with Korea
North Korea launched a rocket on Sunday, but failed to put a satellite into orbit as hoped. Worldfocus editorial consultant Peter Eisner discusses the implications of the launch and the changing face of the U.S. approach to North Korea.
South Korea and Japan brace for North Korea rocket launch
U.S. officials say North Korea appears to be on track for a rocket launch that could take place as early as this Saturday. Although North Korea says the rocket will launch a satellite, South Korea, Japan and the United States think the North Koreans are planning a test of long-range missile technology.
Obama hosts Japan’s Aso to talk economy, North Korea
Ayako Doi of the Asia Society discusses Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso's trip to Washington, amid growing concerns in Japan over the economy and North Korea.
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