North East Asia

Although North Korea has offered unconditional dialogue since January, South Korea is maintaining a tough policy line towards the North as Seoul approaches a year of electoral campaign politics. The risk of conflict remains serious, particularly in the area near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the military demarcation in the Yellow Sea.

As the number of defectors from North Korea arriving in the South has surged in the past decade, reconfiguring integration programs for them has become crucial.

China is undermining its own security interests by downplaying North Korea’s deadly provocations in the Yellow Sea.

China is undermining its own security interests by downplaying North Korea’s deadly provocations in the Yellow Sea.

The sinking of a South Korean naval vessel and artillery attack against a South Korean island highlight that stability on the peninsula is threatened by more than the nuclear issue. A resumption of talks to address maritime delimitation and confidence-building measures – within the context of recalibrated deterrence – are needed to avoid further deterioration towards conflict.

As Myanmar approaches its first elections in two decades, China’s primary concerns are the security and stability of its south-western border and protecting its strategic and economic interests in the country.

Outwardly, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea) appears stable. However, the country has been shaken by constricting international sanctions, extremely poor policy choices, and several internal challenges that have the potential to trigger instability.

The revelation in 2009 of nuclear facilities near Qom intensified international criticism of Iran’s opaque nuclear development.

Pyongyang’s latest round of provocations has prompted Beijing to reconsider its North Korea policy.

Pyongyang’s latest round of provocations has prompted Beijing to reconsider its North Korea policy.