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North Korea

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNorth Korea's Nuclear Bargain

Richard C. Bush III, May 26, 2009, The Daily Beast

North Korea's Nuclear BargainAs North Korea continues to challenge the international community with its nuclear ambitions, Richard Bush examines Kim Jong Il's reasoning behind the nuclear test.  Bush argues that North Korea's latest provocation is an attempt to frame de-nuclearization negotiations on the most favorable terms by putting the Obama administration on the defensive. Read More

North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Northeast Asia, Proliferation, National Security Council

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioA New North Korea Strategy

Michael E. O'Hanlon and Stephen J. Solarz, June 24, 2009, USA Today

Michael O'Hanlon and Stephen Solarz write that with China’s lead—and U.S. support—Pyongyang could be brought to its knees and given the choice of watching its economy collapse or giving up nuclear weapons. Read More

North Korea, China, Nuclear Weapons, Sanctions, Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNorth Korea’s Nuclear and Missile Tests and the Six-Party Talks: Where Do We Go From Here?

Richard C. Bush III, June 17, 2009, House Subcommittees on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment and on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade

In testimony before Congress on June 17, senior fellow and CNAPS director Richard Bush described how North Korea’s recent nuclear and missile tests have transformed the challenge faced by the international system. Dr. Bush testified that it is now clear that North Korea bases its security on nuclear weapons, and the hope that it will abandon the nuclear option has disappeared. Read More

North Korea, Northeast Asia, Nuclear Weapons, Sanctions, United Nations

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioObama, South Korean President Criticize North Korea's Actions

Dennis Wilder, June 16, 2009, PBS' NewsHour

Dennis Wilder joined Gwen Ifill to discuss President Obama and South Korean President Lee Myung-bak meeting about recent provocations in the latest round of the ongoing diplomatic standoff with North Korea. Read More

North Korea, South Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Diplomacy, International Relations

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNorth Korea Collapse Scenarios

Michael E. O'Hanlon, June 2009, The Brookings Institution

North Korea Collapse ScenariosIraq and Afghanistan continue to pre-occupy U.S. military planners. But North Korea, with its growing nuclear arsenal, would become America's paramount security challenge if the state were to collapse. Michael O’Hanlon writes that the United States and other nations must begin detailed and coordinated planning for stabilization in the event of collapse of the North Korean state. Read More

North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Military, China, South Korea

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioIt is China that Holds the Key to North Korea

Dennis Wilder, June 04, 2009, Financial Times

In recent months, North Korea has unabashedly plowed forward with the development of its nuclear program, an action that threatens to erode regional stability in Northeast Asia. Dennis Wilder examines the role of China in reducing the North Korean threat and explores the causes, pointing to necessary limits of China’s calculated caution toward North Korea. Read More

North Korea, China, Nuclear Weapons, Asia, Northeast Asia

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioQuarantine Possibilities for North Korea Shipping

Michael E. O'Hanlon, May 28, 2009, The Washington Times

Michael O'Hanlon writes that while North Korea risks some tightening of sanctions as a result of their recent nuclear test, it probably will not pay a huge and enduring price. O'Hanlon believes if North Korea is unwilling to dismantle its arsenal the U.S., China, and other international partners should set up a maritime quarantine to monitor ships that could transfer nuclear materials and technology to terrorists or other nations. Read More

North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Sanctions, Trade, China

PAST EVENT

Save to My PortfolioThe North Korean Nuclear Crisis

Wednesday, May 27, 2009
2:30 PM to 4:00 PM
Washington, DC

The latest North Korean nuclear test provoked universal international condemnation. The United Nations Security Council, notably with the support of both China and Russia, unanimously condemned North Korea’s actions. On May 27, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the North Korea nuclear crisis. Read More

North Korea, Nuclear Weapons

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNorth Korea’s Nuclear Paradox

Linbo Jin, May 27, 2009, The Brookings Institution

On May 25, 2009, North Korea (DPRK) conducted its second underground nuclear test—believed to be larger than its 2006 test—and drew swift condemnation from the U.N. Security Council and many nations. Linbo Jin outlines the reasons why the DPRK persists in pursuing nuclear weapons in defiance of the international community. Read More

North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Northeast Asia, National Security Council, Asia

VIDEO

Save to My PortfolioPresident Obama's Response to North Korea's Nuclear Test

Richard C. Bush III, May 27, 2009

The United Nations Security Council, President Obama and other global leaders have condemned North Korea’s recent nuclear test and the launch of several short range missiles. Richard Bush, director of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, examines North Korea’s bold actions and considers how the United States might respond.

North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Northeast Asia, Proliferation, National Security Council

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioHuman Rights in North Korea: Some Recommendations for the Obama Administration

Roberta Cohen, April 30, 2009, Heritage Foundation

Human Rights in North Korea: Some Recommendations for the Obama AdministrationThe North Korean human rights record is one of the most egregious in the world, yet the United States has not to date found an effective way to address the issue. Brookings Nonresident Senior Fellow Roberta Cohen proposes to the Obama administration the development of a strategy for integrating human rights into any future dealings with North Korea, be they multilateral or bilateral. Read More

North Korea, Human Rights, Foreign Policy, International Relations, United Nations

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioFirst 100 days: Grading Obama’s Foreign Policy

Michael E. O'Hanlon, April 29, 2009, Reuters's "The Great Debate"

As President Obama spends his 100th day in office, Michael O'Hanlon assesses the foreign policy maneuvers of the new U.S. administration. Partisan debates aside, O'Hanlon argues that Obama is off to a more solid start—in numerous regions of the world—than any of his recent predecessors. Read More

Foreign Policy, The Presidency, Diplomacy, Iraq, Afghanistan

PAST EVENT

Save to My Portfolio2009 Seoul-Washington Forum: The Future of U.S.-Republic of Korea Relations

Thursday, April 16, 2009
9:00 AM to 11:45 AM
Washington, DC

On April 16, leading experts from South Korea and the United States addressed the economic and military relationship between the two countries during the third annual Seoul-Washington Forum at the Brookings Institution.  Brookings Senior Fellow Richard Bush, director of the Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, provided introductory remarks and moderated the discussion. Read More

South Korea, Foreign Policy, Trade, Defense, North Korea

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNorth Korea’s Third Missile Launch and Kim Jong-il’s Miscalculation

Sun-won Park, April 06, 2009, The Brookings Institution

Seeking to demonstrate its nuclear deterrent and win negotiating points from the United States and others, North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on April 5, 2009. CNAPS Visiting Fellow Sun-won Park writes that, contrary to Pyongyang’s calculations, this incident does not demonstrate North Korea’s strength or self-reliance but should be perceived as a tactical and strategic failure. Read More

North Korea, Proliferation, Arms Control, Diplomacy

RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY

Save to My PortfolioNo-Drama Obama and the North Koreans

Michael E. O'Hanlon, April 01, 2009, Politico

No-Drama Obama and the North KoreansSome analysts suggested a strong U.S. response was in order to North Korea's long-range rocket test. Michael O'Hanlon argued that the Obama administration should instead be patient and use this as an opportunity for cooperation with an international coalition to secure longer-term goals. Read More

North Korea, Weapons of Mass Destruction, Defense, Weapons, Missile Defense

In Brief

Shut off from the rest of the world, North Korea has a weak economy and a repressive political system. Its recent missile launches and second test of a nuclear device—believed to be larger than the one conducted in 2006— has once again brought the international community's attention to North Korea's continued effort to develop nuclear weapons. Brookings experts analyze the political situation in Pyongyang and strategies for containing its nuclear ambitions.

Featured Experts

Richard C. Bush III

Richard C. Bush III

Director, Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies
The Michael H. Armacost Chair

Richard Bush’s two-decade public service career spans Congress, the intelligence community and the U.S. State Department. He currently focuses on China-Taiwan relations, U.S.-China relations, the Korean peninsula and Japan’s security. He is the author of, among other works,  A War Like No Other: The Truth About China's Challenge to America,  Untying the Knot: Making Peace in the Taiwan Strait , and At Cross Purposes: U.S.-Taiwan Relations Since 1942.

Read More

Michael E. O'Hanlon

Michael E. O'Hanlon

Senior Fellow, Foreign Policy
The Sydney Stein, Jr. Chair

Michael O’Hanlon specializes in U.S. national security policy. He is senior author of the Iraq Index. A former defense budget analyst who advised members of Congress on military spending, he specializes in Iraq, North Korea, homeland security, the use of military force and other defense issues.
Read More

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Q&A with Richard Bush III

Obama's Response to North Korea's Nuclear Test

"It's ... very important for the Obama administration to maintain the united front that exists among the the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia. North Korea is very good at driving wedges amongst these five powers."

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Spotlight

TopicMigration

Migration is an issue that bridges Brookings’s expertise in domestic and foreign policy. In the United States, reforming immigration policy remains a subject of intense political debate. Globally, the unprecedented movement of people across borders raises issues in both industrialized countries and the developing world.

Research ProjectBudgeting for National Priorities

The Budgeting for National Priorities project promotes greater fiscal responsibility by developing new ideas, educating the public and finding common ground among experts and policy-makers.

ExpertMartin Neil Baily

Martin Baily, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, focuses on issues of globalization, productivity and competitiveness, Social Security reform and U.S. economic policy.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

Policy CenterCenter on Children and Families

The Center on Children and Families studies policies on the well-being of America's children and their parents and seeks a more effective means of addressing poverty, inequality and lack of opportunity in the United States.

Policy CenterJohn L. Thornton China Center

The John L. Thornton China Center develops analysis and policy recommendations to help address key long-term challenges, both in terms of U.S.-China relations and China's internal development.

Policy CenterCenter on the United States and Europe

The Center on the U.S. and Europe is dedicated to the study of Europe and U.S.-Europe relations. It involves American and European experts in an active program of research, analysis, and debate.

ExpertVanda Felbab-Brown

Vanda Felbab-Brown focuses on the national security implications of illicit economies and strategies for managing them. She is a security studies professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

ProgramMetropolitan Policy Program

Redefining the challenges facing metropolitan America and promoting innovative solutions to help communities grow in more inclusive, competitive and sustainable ways.

Research Project21st Century Defense Initiative

The 21st Century Defense Initiative produces cutting-edge research, analysis, and outreach that address some of the most critical issues facing leaders shaping defense policy in the coming century. The initiative focuses on three core issues: the future of war, the future of U.S. defense needs and priorities, and the future of the U.S. defense system

Research ProjectAfrica Growth Initiative

The Africa Growth Initiative conducts high-quality policy research and analysis focused on attaining sustainable economic development and prosperity in Africa, while amplifying the voice of African researchers in policy-making and planning.

TopicEducation

The economic and political well-being of any democracy requires a well-educated citizenry. Brookings’s work has extended beyond the K-12 bookends to include pre-school interventions and issues in higher education. Experts are tackling fundamental issues on the role of education in the national and global economy.

ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, who holds the New Century Chair in International Economics, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He is the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University and was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

ExpertRobert Puentes

Robert Puentes focuses on the broad array of policies and issues related to metropolitan growth and development. He is an expert on transportation and infrastructure, urban planning, growth management, suburban issues and housing.

TopicHealth Care

Brookings is committed to producing innovative policy solutions to our nation’s most difficult challenges. The country may face no more important domestic policy challenge than the much-needed reform of our health care system. Through an institution-wide effort, Brookings delivers new ideas and offers policy solutions to improve health care both at home and globally.