Backgrounder posted April 11, 2013 by Bruce Klingner
The U.S. Should Support New South Korean President’s Approach to North Korea
In late February 2013, Park Geun-hye was inaugurated as the 11th President of South Korea. Park’s ascent comes at a critical juncture in the Republic’s history: Facing several formidable challenges—rising regional security threats, economic uncertainty, and growing pressure to address domestic income disparities—South Korea needs strong and decisive political leadership.…
Issue Brief posted April 8, 2013 by Bruce Klingner
North Korean Threats: What Washington Should Do
North Korea is easy to ridicule. The country is an anachronistic hangover from the Cold War, replete with cartoonish propaganda and over-the-top threats. Its leader could well play the villain in a James Bond or Austin Powers movie. Self-appointed ambassador Dennis Rodman’s visit affirmed the image of the reclusive regime as the ultimate reality show. As such, the…
Issue Brief posted March 27, 2013 by Bruce Klingner
Increasing Risk of North Korean Tactical Attack on South Korea: What U.S. Needs to Do
North Korea routinely threatens to annihilate South Korea, the United States, and Japan. After its recent successful long-range missile and nuclear tests, Pyongyang now claims it already has the capability to target U.S. bases in the Pacific and the American homeland with nuclear weapons.
As frightening as these warnings are, North Korea would more likely conduct…
Issue Brief posted February 21, 2013 by Bruce Klingner
U.S. Should Prioritize Alliance Support with Visiting Japanese PM
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will meet with President Obama on February 22 to affirm the bilateral alliance and align policies responding to recent North Korean and Chinese aggression. Since Abe has been in office for only two months, no tangible summit achievements (“deliverables,” in diplomatic parlance) are expected. But President Obama should use the opportunity…
Issue Brief posted January 28, 2013 by Bruce Klingner
North Korea Nuclear Test: Time for U.S. and U.N. to Get Serious on Sanctions
North Korea has again openly defied the international community, first by launching a rocket in violation of United Nations resolutions and then threatening those that seek to punish—however meekly—the regime for its transgressions. Yet the United States and the U.N. remain reluctant to fully implement measures to make sanctions more effective. This policy timidity…
Issue Brief posted December 6, 2012 by Bruce Klingner
North Korean Missile Launch Challenges U.S. Foreign Policy
North Korea announced on December 1 that, between December 10 and 22, it would again attempt to launch a “civilian satellite.” The Unha-3 launch vehicle is the same as the Taepo Dong-2 (TD-2) intercontinental ballistic missile that North Korea previously test launched in 2006, 2009, and 2012. North Korea bragged in October that its missiles could “strike the U.S.…
Backgrounder posted November 14, 2012 by Bruce Klingner
U.S. Should Use Japanese Political Change to Advance the Alliance
Abstract: On December 16, the Japanese people will once again have an opportunity to reshape their nation’s political landscape. To many, such reform seemed imminent three years ago, when the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) swept into power. Yet the DPJ was unable to turn campaign promises into concrete reforms, and as a result, the Japanese public’s desire for political…