Region
East Asia
South Korea: Kim Jong Un Did Not Have Surgery Amid Lingering Rumors
By Associated Press
The North Korean leader did not undergo a surgery, according to South Korean authorities.
Kim Jong Un Is Back, But North Korea Should Still Prepare for Leadership Transition
By Cui Lei
Kim’s reappearance ends the current round of rumors, but health concerns will linger.
Canada and the US-China Geopolitical Tug of War
By Aadil Brar
The latest news in the Meng Wanzhou case barely registered amid COVID-19.
North Korean Soldiers Fire at South Korean Guardpost
By Ankit Panda
Seoul assessed the incident as a violation of a 2018 military agreement.
Kim Jong Un Reappears to Open Fertilizer Plant After Rumor-Heavy Absence
By Ankit Panda
Kim opened the Sunchon Phosphate Fertilizer Plant — a facility he had drawn attention to months earlier.
Kim Jong Un’s Quiet April: Exceptional, or Par for the Course?
By Ankit Panda
Plus: China-Australia tensions; U.S. export controls; offensive cyber from Vietnam
What Will Tokyo’s Postponed Olympics Mean for Japanese Politics?
By Kristo Tamm
Shinzo Abe’s legacy is on the line.
As COVID-19 Loses Steam, Hong Kong Protests Heat Up
By Associated Press
Dwindling case counts, coupled with Beijing’s latest moves to consolidate control over the city, have protesters braving in-person demonstrations yet again.
Amid a Pandemic, China Ramps Up Maritime ‘Micro-Aggressions’
By Ben Lowsen
Beijing is putting up a brash front to hide its growing insecurity.
Will COVID-19 Be a Blessing in Disguise for the Belt and Road?
By Xianbai Ji
The hiatus afforded by COVID-19 provides an opportunity for China to contemplate ways to bring about an improved BRI 2.0.
Japan’s Jobless Rate Spikes as Companies Clamor for Assistance
By Thisanka Siripala
Confusion, controversy, and red tape have critics warning that government assistance will arrive too late to keep businesses from going under.
Getting the Pacific Deterrence Initiative Right
By Benjamin Rimland and Patrick Buchan
The PDI will undoubtedly set the groundwork for U.S. defense posture in Asia for the foreseeable future. Getting it right matters.