North Korea

Is The North Korea Cyberattack On Sony An Act Of War? By Horward Koplowitz  December 22, 2014 | International Business Times President Barack Obama’s declaration Sunday that the North Korean attack on Sony Pictures Entertainment was an act of “cyber vandalism” and not an act of war has far-reaching implications for the U.S. response to the crippling hack that led Sony to cancel the release of the comedy film “The Interview.” Not only was the president correct in his assessment of the incident, experts said, but characterizing the attack as “cyber vandalism” and not war minimizes the chances of escalation between the two countries. The North Korean cyberattack wasn’t an act of war because no violence was inflicted and Americans’ physical security wasn’t in danger by Sony… Read More ›

North Korea boosts rocket launcher, cruise missile threats By Martin Sieff July 15, 2014 Ralph Winnie, head of Global Business Development at the Eurasian Business Coalition in Washington, D.C., told Asia-Pacific Defense Forum [APDF] that China’s cooperation with South Korea and the United States was essential to exercise a restraining influence on Pyongyang. North Korea appeared to resent South Korea’s improving ties with China as well as its continuing close alliance with the United States. “Xi’s visit is an expression of the new 21st century understanding of Northeast Asia by Beijing policymakers,” Winnie said. “China is an integral and major player in the global economy and the leaders in Beijing know their legitimacy and stability come from maintaining a robust, growing economy – and that… Read More ›

By John Bradshaw April 8, 2014 | Asia Times A launch by North Korea of two mid-range Rodong missiles last week was a political act that does not indicate any significant increase in the country’s missile capabilities. However, the launch, intended to show North Korea’s displeasure with current joint US-South Korea military exercises, does serve as a reminder that while nuclear talks remain stalled, North Korea continues to work on its missile and nuclear weapons technology. In fact, with little notice, the international community has drifted dangerously close to a de facto acquiescence to a nuclear North Korea. The international community ostensibly remains committed to a process of denuclearization in North Korea, but the diplomatic process that could lead toward that goal has been moribund… Read More ›

Pyongyang, North Korea [calflier001 via Flickr, 10/23/12]As policymakers remain understandably focused on upcoming negotiations with Iran concerning its nuclear program, North Korea continues to pose a serious national security challenge to the United States and Northeast Asia. Preceding Kim Jong-un’s “reelection” over the weekend, North Korea fired multiple short range ballistic missiles into the ocean as a signal of dissatisfaction with the ongoing annual U.S-South Korean military exercises. While this level of saber rattling is significantly below the threshold of past provocations, such as last year’s nuclear test and the shelling of the South Korean Island of Yeonpyeong in 2010, it is sufficient to remind the United States of the urgent need to reinvigorate diplomacy towards the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula – an… Read More ›

My Strategic Impatience By John Feffer  March 10, 2014 | The Hankyoreh A recent publication by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea offers the administration some suggestions on how to make some progress on what remains the most intractable problem that the 20th century has gifted to the 21st. In place of “strategic patience,” which cedes control over the process to Pyongyang, the report recommends that the Obama administration shift over to “strategic shaping.” This more proactive approach to North Korea consists of several interlocking proposals. First, it means talking to North Korea, and not just through the infamous back channel with the New York-based DPRK mission to the United Nations. High-level contacts, preferably initiated by a new official in… Read More ›

US ex-envoy says dialogue vital with North Korea February 27, 2014 | Yahoo! News   Washington (AFP) – The US diplomat who led the last substantive denuclearization negotiations with North Korea urged fresh dialogue Wednesday, warning that the long gap in talks only aggravated the risks. Christopher Hill represented the United States in six-nation talks in which Pyongyang agreed in 2005 and 2007 to give up its nuclear weapons in return for aid and security guarantees. Relations have since worsened significantly, with North Korea defiantly carrying out another nuclear test last year. Hill presented an independent report that urged more “robust diplomacy” with North Korea. The study, by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea, called for the United States to… Read More ›

Seeking a New U.S. Approach to North Korea February 27, 2014 Alastair Gale | Wall Street Journal Has the U.S. outsourced its North Korea policy to China? On his recent swing through Northeast Asia, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry emphasized the role that he wants Beijing to play in reining in Pyongyang’s nuclear program. China, he said after meeting its leaders, provided commitments for new action to steer North Korea toward denuclearization. No specifics were given.   For the original piece, click here.   Read More ›

Rep. Eliot L. Engel, the senior Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement following today’s event on the challenges posed by a nuclear North Korea hosted by the National Committee on North Korea and the National Security Network. ” I would like to acknowledge John Bradshaw of the National Security Network (NSN), and Karin Lee of the National Committee on North Korea (NCNK), for their work on the joint report that seeks to tackle the difficult issues in dealing with North Korea. I also want to thank Ambassador Chris Hill, our former lead negotiator to the Six-Party Talks, who knows first-hand the challenge of negotiating with the North Koreans. To read comments in their entirety, please click here. Read More ›

Experts Call for Steps to Jump-Start North Korea Nuclear Engagement February 26, 2014   Rachel Oswald | Global Security Newswire   A new expert report recommends changing U.S. policy on North Korea denuclearization to focus more on interim steps and crisis-stability measures. A paper by the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea argues a change of approach is needed as the current policy of refusing to engage until Pyongyang first takes serious disarmament steps “risks de facto recognition of North Korea as a nuclear power.” …   For the original piece, click here. The article was also posted by the National Journal here, and by World News here. Read More ›

U.S. Policy towards North Korea Strategic Shaping and Interim Steps to Denuclearization For Immediate Release: Wednesday, February 26, 2014 WASHINGTON, DC — Today, the National Security Network and the National Committee on North Korea released the paper, “U.S. Policy towards North Korea: Strategic Shaping and Interim Steps to Denuclearization.” The paper’s release coincided with an event on Capitol Hill featuring Ambassador Christopher Hill, NSN Executive Director John Bradshaw, and NCNK Executive Director Karin Lee. Below is an executive summary of the paper. The paper can be read in its entirety by clicking here.  To read the full report, click here.  EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: North Korea’s WMD program advances pose an increasing threat to the U.S. while its brinksmanship tactics create instability and the risk of conflict arising from miscalculation. The administration’s emphasis… Read More ›