It’s time to face the facts on North Korea, says former CIA officer Robert Baer: Washington is completely in the dark about Pyongyang and its intentions.
North Korea’s nuclear test
Former US defence sec: we could have stopped North Korea
“We could have stopped this last nuclear test if we had chosen to,” says William Perry, who negotiated with North Korea during the Clinton administration, noting the possibility of using “military action”.
Japan, North Korea and nuclear weapons… awkward
Japan itself poses an obstacle to denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula, write Kawasaki Akira and Meri Joyce.
Crikey Clarifier: North Korea’s nuclear threat explained
How does North Korea’s threat to the world compare to say, Iran’s? How great is the threat towards South Korea? Craig Snyder answers these questions and more.
He’s no roony: there’s method in Kim’s madness
Iraq had no weapons of mass destruction; it got invaded. North Korea tested a nuclear bomb three years ago; it got a mixture of bribes and angry rhetoric. That explains everything.
Can Moscow stop North Korea?
In Moscow, where North Korea’s oddball Stalinist dynasty was born and and nurtured for decades, officials appear perplexed and even scared over the Pyongyang regime’s increasingly wayward behavior.
Kim Jong Il’s provocations may be entirely rational
What can North Korea gain by its current round of provocations, which have alienated even its old ally, China — a nuclear test, followed by short-range missile tests, and now a threat to tear up the armistice that ended the Korean War?
Pyongyang only wants to deal with one nation: America
Pyongyang’s behavior can be seen as a reflection of its wish to abandon the Six Party process, which North Koreans find tedious and unproductive, in favour of direct talks with the US.
5 reasons why this isn’t groundhog day in North Korea
To clarify a way forward, it’s worth considering how the playing field has shifted, and how this may create a different set of possibilities for dealing with the North Korean regime, argues Dan Twining.
North Korea: just take a deep breath
The best response to North Korea’s attention-seeking behaviour may be no response at all, argues Fred Kaplan.
North Korea defies US with sixth missile
North Korea has fired another short-range missile in defiance of warnings from the United States, bringing the total numbers of launches in the past three days to six.
Crikey wrap: a Nuclear North Korea timeline
North Korea’s latest nuclear weapons and missile tests have set the political world abuzz. Crikey intern Nicola Heath looks back at the history and what people are saying now.
North Korea barks to keep world at bay
With Kim Jong-il getting on a bit, North Korea experiencing a vulnerable time while a successor is picked. Could all this banging just be about getting the world to back off?
North Korea: a timeline
The NY Times gives a visual history of one of the world’s most dangerous and mysterious countries.
North Korea remains a dangerous enigma
The assumption that North Korea is ultimately willing to negotiate away its nuclear program must be questioned, says Bill Powell.
Bomb test an internal show of strength
The audience for North Korea’s nuclear test may be its own population as much as the United States, says Martin Fackler.
Q&A: What’s the real threat of nuclear North Korea?
Reuters answers some fundamental questions about the threat posed by North Korea’s nuclear programme.
North Korea tests Obama’s nerves
North Korea has upped the ante to remind the US the Taliban don’t have a monopoly on terror, says Tim Kelly.
Al Jazeera: North Korea conducts nuclear test
Al Jazeera reports on North Korea’s recent nuclear test.
North Korea throws a well-timed tantrum
With South Korea still reeling from the suicide of former President Roh Moo-hyun, Kim Jong-il sure has an exquisite sense of timing, says David Pilling.
No ray of sunshine in nuclear test
There are three explanations for North Korea’s nuclear test today, says Simon Tisdall — none of them are palatable.
Another goose-step backwards with North Korea
There are no easy answers when dealing with a state whose behaviour is unpredictable. The rule is: there is no rule, says Paul Reynolds.
North Korea’s final gamble
Pyongyang has few chips with which to bargain, says Anna Konopatskya. They are relying on the belief that belligerent actions might reap long-term political rewards.
