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Nodong medium range missile on parade in Pyongyang (Army Recognition photo)

NKorea’s cynical negotiation cycle turns full circle again

By Andy Jackson Mon, Jul 25, 2011 10:32PM UTC View Comments

Since the Korean War six decades ago, North Korea has employed a by-now familiar pattern in is negotiations with Seoul and Washington. With some variations, the basic pattern is straight-forward: Begin negotiations following some crisis (often manufactured by Pyongyang) Make an agreement (or at least an agreement to make an agreement) Reinterpret the agreement Blame...

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US: What happens in northeast Asia depends very much on us

By Andy Jackson Thu, Jun 23, 2011 2:17AM UTC View Comments

U.S. Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton affirmed the US commitment to Japan and Asia. (Defense Department / Tech. Sgt. Jacob N. Bailey photo)

Robert M. Gates, in one of his last actions as US Defense Secretary, and State Hillary Rodham Clinton met with Japanese Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto and Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa in Washington to discuss a range of issues. The full plate included talks on North Korea, Afghanistan, maritime security, missile-defense interceptor production, humanitarian assistance and disaster...

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Radio Asian Correspondent: Jimmy Carter’s visit to Pyongyang

By Andy Jackson Thu, Apr 28, 2011 2:15PM UTC View Comments

Former US president Jimmy is visiting North Korea along with three other former heads of state; former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari, former Norwegian prime minister Gro Brundtland and former Irish president Mary Robinson. They are members of a group of former heads of state and aging opinion leaders calling themselves “The Elders.” This trip is focused on ”easing of the...

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North Korea’s second Libya lesson: Keep the nukes

By Andy Jackson Thu, Apr 14, 2011 9:40PM UTC View Comments

North and South Korea soldiers in the Joint Security Area on the border of the two Koreas (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

In my previous post, I noted America’s tendency to undercut autocratic regimes despite agreements that it may have with them. Such a tendency clearly makes it more difficult for dictators like Kim Jong-il to put much stock in deals they reach with Washington. That makes reaching a deal between Pyongyang and Washington on North Korean nuclear disarmament...

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Gates: North Korea will soon be a ’direct threat’ to US

By Andy Jackson Thu, Jan 13, 2011 12:59AM UTC View Comments

US Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates. Pic: AP.

American Defense Secretary Robert Gates believes that North Korea will be able to strike the United States with intercontinental ballistic missiles within five years. Speaking to reporters in Beijing following a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, Gates publicly thanked Chinese officials for helping to ease tensions following the North Korean artillery attack on South...

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