China Bandwagons with North Korea
To bolster the North Korean buffer China seems prepared to use all of the instruments at its disposal. These include economic, political, diplomatic, and potentially military means, to prop up the regime.
Crazy, Irrational, or Under Pressure? Why War with North Korea is Unlikely
Deterrence and survival maximization continue to dictate state behavior in nuclear and military affairs. There is no evidence to suggest that the case of the DPRK is any different.
North Korea as the ‘Boy Who Cried Wolf’: A Response
Ignoring North Korea is the worst sleight of all. It reminds the elites what they know, and hate – that no one takes them seriously. North Korea is another ‘Upper Volta with nuclear weapons,’ and we should treat it as such.
Escalation Gambit: North Korea’s Perilous Play for Security and Prosperity
The hostile posturing of the North Korean leadership is decipherable if located within the context of its symbiotic national security and economic development goals.
IR Theory and the DPRK
Looking at interpretations of current events through an IR theory lens, it is astonishing at how often claims have been made that war is likely, and that we have no way of understanding what North Korea might do.
Opportunity and Peril in the North Korean Standoff
Most pundits have determined that Kim Jong Un has consolidated power and is now about to, irrationally, strike out against South Korea and her allies. But, what if this assumption is an error?
The Paradox of Russo-Chinese Relations
Even as Russia and China have been presenting a united front on a whole host of global issues in recent months, the underlining sense of mistrust that has long pervaded the bilateral relationship is becoming more acute. Competition in Asia is likely to persist.
The Cold War is Sustained Through Pyongyang: The East-West Divide in Northeast Asia
Though frustrating for the U.S., South Korea and Japan, the geopolitical reality is that northeast Asia remains mired in a Cold War-esque East-West divide between the Continental and Oceanic powers.
Regional Implications of the 21 May U.S.-South Korea-Japan Trilateral Meeting
The trilateral meeting provides insight on underlying issues within current policy approaches towards North Korea and Pyongyang’s potential response to pressures arising from the international community.
Regional Responses to the DPRK’s Satellite Launch
The international community approaches North Korea with a poor tasting carrot and a broken stick. This gives Pyongyang a great deal of leverage in regional diplomacy.
