Northeast Asia

These are individuals [young South Koreans] who have grown up with multiple announcements and declarations about the North's threatening postures and programs. So in a way, they've become very familiar with this narrative.

The North Korean leadership has convinced itself that its existence as an autonomous state derives directly from its possession of nuclear weapons.

[The North Koreans] are tough, determined customers. They thumb their nose to the outside world.

China is worried that the [Democratic] Progressive Party’s candidate, Tsai Ing-wen, will actively work toward independence.

A big question going forward is '[is China] going to use the same tools to keep it at two [children] as they used for one?' which were quite abusive and in effect were human-rights violations, particularly in rural areas. Coercing pregnant women into abortions if they'd already had one kid, early on forcing them to have sterilizations at least in some parts of China. It was really nasty. Over time, as there was more prosperity, people were more willing and able to pay the fines that were charged, but this will help get the state out of the bedroom up to a point.