North Korea

A look at how Pyongyang backed away from its latest provocation, and what that might mean for the future.

Politics complicates efforts to control the disease.

An effective policy towards Pyongyang would recognize why the regime perpetuates crises and then change the incentive structure it faces.

Beijing calls the shots in North Korea? History shows that thinking is misguided.

Although a symbol of inter-Korean cooperation, the once noble Kaesong experiment has long been a failure.

“The history of North Korea suggests that its leadership acts with greatest vehemence when it is internally weak, as a way to justify its economic failures by blaming a foreign conspiracy…”

Officials below the power circle of the Kim family may not play an overt role in N. Korea, but are vital to understanding the regime and its future.

"Because North Korea has such a rich history of extreme rhetoric, they must be more and more extreme in each crisis..."

Few wars happen by accident. Given the situation on the Korean Peninsula, a war seems unlikely, as none of the combatants stand to benefit.

Maybe. But the United States would need to consider the consequences…and what happens next.

While many made note of a recent speech by N. Korea’s leader, it maybe what Pyongyang wants to hear from S. Korea that might be of real interest.

Pyongyang has successfully tested a long-range rocket. What may happen next — including missiles someday armed with nuclear warheads — could make matters worse.