Will Jimmy Carter’s latest North Korea visit change anything?   
   

Former US President Jimmy Carter’s 48-hour mission to Pyongyang this week leaves analysts wondering whether anyone, however well intentioned, can persuade North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-il to relent on his hard-line policies and return to serious talk on giving up the North’s nuclear program. (The Christian Science Monitor)

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Six Party North Korea nuke talks may resume   
  

The six-party talks for the denuclearisation of North Korea may be resumed sometime this spring after a hiatus of more than two years. South Korean foreign minister Kim Sung-hwan and US secretary of state Hillary Clinton agreed in Seoul last week that they would pursue direct inter-Korean talks as a prelude to reopening the six-way talks. This concurs with China's recent proposal for a three-stage process, envisaging South-North and US-North talks leading to the multilateral session joined by Russia and Japan.        (The Brunei Times)

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North Korea: Why Seoul-Tokyo cooperation is necessary   

From territorial disputes to non-traditional security concerns, 2010 will be remembered as the pivotal year for East Asian security. The sinking of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeongdo reminded us of the deeply-rooted risks lying in the Peninsula. But, additionally, it has created momentum for bilateral and trilateral cooperation between South Korea, Japan and the US. (East Asia Forum)

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Global Insights: Russia's Positive Role in Korea Talks   

Many observers of the Korean Peninsula have traced the apparent relaxation of tensions there to the supporting contributions made by China and the United States, with attention now focusing on the upcoming inter-Korean dialogue. But Russia’s role in this process also deserves mention, since Moscow can be a positive force regarding the Koreas. (World Politics Review)

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Rethinking our approach to the Korean crisis   

North Korea’s calculated military provocations over the past year and its continued nuclear development have raised tensions on the peninsula to dangerously high levels. Giving extra urgency to this already dangerous scenario is the 2012 problem: next year we will see presidential elections in South Korea and the United States and a leadership change in China. (East Asia Forum)

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Obama, Hu on North Korea   

As expected, U.S. President Barack Obama and his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao addressed two issues concerning North Korea during their summit on Wednesday ― its hostility against South Korea and its nuclear weapons program. They made agreements in broad terms. But their post-summit remarks provided no indication that they agreed to take any concrete steps with regard to the two issues. (The Korea Herald)

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Will the (Six)Party Resume?   

After an extremely tense ending to 2010, one that brought the two Koreas to the brink of war, in the first days of 2011 East Asia has experienced unusually intense diplomatic activity – Mr. Bosworth, President’s Obama special envoy for North Korea traveled to Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing, Chinese and Japanese Foreign Ministers visited the U.S., while the U.S. Defense Secretary held talks in China.  One of the major topics discussed was how to prevent further escalation of the conflict in Northeast Asia. These meetings served as a preparation ground for Chinese President’s Hu visit to the U.S., beginning January 19.

What Russia can do on North Korea   

Events over the past few weeks have underscored Moscow’s desire to play a major role in resolving the disputes between North Korea and its neighbours. But they’ve also highlighted the limits of Moscow’s influence. (The Diplomat)

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Sino-US geopolitical rivalry does not help Korean stability 
The United States government believes China needs to do more to contribute to stability on the Korean peninsula. According to this view, North Korea is highly dependent on Chinese support and Beijing should use its influence to moderate Pyongyang’s behavior. As some American and other Western observers have put it, it is time for China to start behaving like a responsible great power. But it is not likely that China will fundamentally alter its policies. (East Asia Forum)

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Détente or setting the stage for more Koreas...   

There are two competing histories being written on the Korean Peninsula right now. One school sees the crisis that has swelled since North Korea’s deadly attack last month on a South Korean island as the most dangerous in decades, perhaps since the end of the Korean War. The other sees only rhetoric and business as usual. (The Globe and Mail)

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How to Stop the Next Korean War

For the first time in decades, a real war on the Korean Peninsula is possible. (Foreign Policy)

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A Rational Suggestion Regarding North Korea 

North Korea’s artillery attack on its Southern neighbour was not – as it claimed- a justified reaction to a South Korean military exercise. Rather, it was only the latest in a series of pin-prick attacks designed to pressure and bully its southern neighbour. (East Asia Forum) 

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