A war of nerves appears to be brewing between the allies -- South Korea and the U.S. -- and China over their approach to North Korea, spawning concerns that any discord would hurt the ongoing efforts to adopt stringent sanctions for Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test. President Park Geun-hye speaks during a New Year policy briefing on Friday. (Yonhap)Since President Park Geun-hye expressed skepticism over the efficacy of the long-stalled six-party talks and called for five-party talks -- excluding

Politics Jan. 24, 2016

In the wake of Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test last week, Seoul is raising pressure on the communist regime to abandon its policy of simultaneously developing its economy and nuclear arms, by toughening both bilateral and multilateral sanctions. Seoul has long argued that Pyongyang’s two-pronged policy would never be successful as its dual objectives of economic development and nuclear armament are “incompatible” -- a view shared by its security ally, Washington. President Park Geun-hye speaks d

North Korea Jan. 10, 2016

The U.S. deployed its strategic nuclear-capable B-52 bomber to South Korea in a show of force against North Korea on Sunday, four days after the communist state claimed to have conducted a hydrogen bomb test. The U.S. B-52 strategic bomber, escorted by four fighter jets, is seen flying over the Korean Peninsula on Sunday. (Yonhap)The deployment was part of the allies’ coordinated military steps to respond to Pyongyang’s latest provocation. As a first step, Seoul resumed its loudspeaker propagand

North Korea Jan. 10, 2016

North Korea’s dogged pursuit of nuclear armament is drawing attention to what kind of nuclear strategy it has been pursuing and whether it would ever use its atomic bomb in any conflict with its potential adversaries including the U.S. and South Korea. North Korea leader Kim Jong-un delivers his New Year`s address. (Yonhap)Pyongyang has so far been striving to nuclearize itself apparently to raise its bargaining power, fend off threats of a regime change, deter nuclear attacks or any blackmail f

North Korea Jan. 8, 2016

 South Korea will resume front-line loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts on Friday in response to North Korea’s self-proclaimed hydrogen bomb test, as the U.N. Security Council is poised to draw up a fresh resolution of stronger sanctions against the communist state.Cho Tae-yong, deputy chief of Cheong Wa Dae`s National Security Office speaks during a press conference on Thursday. (Yonhap)The move is expected to draw a strong protest from the North, as the contents of the broadcasts including the b

North Korea Jan. 7, 2016

Despite doubts over North Korea’s self-proclaimed hydrogen bomb test, its evolving nuclear weapons technology is expected to trigger strategic moves by regional powers to secure their security interests, analysts said Thursday.The U.S. may seek to capitalize on the renewed military tensions to strengthen its military partnerships with South Korea and Japan, while China would likely become wary of the potential impact of the bilateral and trilateral partnerships, they noted. U.S. President Barack

North Korea Jan. 7, 2016

North Korea successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test Wednesday, the North’s official broadcaster claimed, saying it would continue to strengthen its nuclear deterrence so long as the U.S. keeps its “hostile policy” toward the communist state.The North’s Korean Central Television said that Pyongyang carried out its fourth nuclear test at 10 a.m. local time, and “completely confirmed the accuracy” of its technology to build a “miniaturized” hydrogen bomb, and scientifically proved its power.The

North Korea Jan. 6, 2016

Pyongyang’s fourth nuclear test on Wednesday will further upgrade its nuclear weapons technology, bringing it closer to its long-cherished goal of becoming a de facto nuclear power, analysts said.The North has already claimed to have the capability to miniaturize and diversify nuclear bombs, and the latest test appears to show progress in the North’s decades-long efforts to secure nuke capabilities, they noted, both in terms of quality and quantity.“North Korea should now be seen as a de facto n

North Korea Jan. 6, 2016

The failure by Seoul and Washington to curb the growth of Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program drew heavy criticism Wednesday after the communist regime claimed to have successfully conducted a hydrogen bomb test.President Park Geun-hye presides over a National Security Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday. (Yonhap)Seoul and Washington have so far focused on applying sanctions against Pyongyang’s development of nuclear arms and missiles, and persistently called for “sincerity” in its den

National Jan. 6, 2016

Stephen Bosworth, a former U.S. envoy for North Korea policy, died Sunday, according to the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, where he had worked until recently. He was 77.Stephen Bosworth (Yonhap)The exact cause of his death was not immediately made public. But he is known to have contracted prostate cancer several years ago. Last November, he was scheduled to visit Seoul to attend an international forum, but his visit was canceled due

Foreign Affairs Jan. 5, 2016

Uncertainties hang over inter-Korean relations, as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sharpened his criticism against South Korea while expressing his will for bilateral dialogue to enhance cross-border ties during his New Year’s address on Friday.North Korean leader Kim Jong-un delivers his New Year`s speech on Friday. (Yonhap)During the 29-minute address, broadcast by the North’s official Korean Central Television, Kim blasted Seoul’s unification policy, arguing that Seoul “begged foreign forces”

North Korea Jan. 3, 2016

Seoul and Tokyo are inching toward a compromise on Japan’s wartime sexual enslavement of Korean women by holding a director-general-level meeting on Sunday, a day before the ministers were set to sit down for talks. Japese Foreign Ministry`s Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau Kimihiro Ishikane walks into the building of Seoul`s Foreign Ministry on Sunday. (Yonhap)The 12th round of working-level talks were held for two hours to settle one of the thorniest issues that has lo

Foreign Affairs Dec. 27, 2015