Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

cipherbrief

Welcome! Log in to stay connected and make the most of your experience.

Input clean

North Korea

Talking to Kim Jong Un Could Help Freeze His Nuclear Ambitions

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Talking to Kim Jong Un Could Help Freeze His Nuclear Ambitions

OPINION — North Korea’s Kim Jong Un publicly announced that he’s prepared to meet with President Donald Trump: “If the US drops its hollow obsession [...] More

North KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTraniAsia

The Latest

Welcome to the Gray Zone and the Future of Great Power Competition
Badge
special series

Welcome to the Gray Zone and the Future of Great Power Competition

This is part one of a 3-part series by Cipher Brief Expert and former Assistant Director of CIA for South and Central Asia Dave Pitts, who also [...] More

ChinaRussiaNorth KoreaUkraineIntelligenceDave PittsDoDEuropeAsia

Memo to the 47th President: There’s a Way Forward on North Korea 

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Memo to the 47th President: There’s a Way Forward on North Korea 

MEMO TO THE PRESIDENT — To the President-elect: North Korea spent almost thirty years trying to normalize relations with the U.S., knowing it would [...] More

AsiaNorth KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTrani

The Danger of War on the Korean Peninsula

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

The Danger of War on the Korean Peninsula

OPINION — North Korea’s enhanced allied relationship with Russia, and leader Kim Jong Un’s decision to send troops to aid Russia in its war of [...] More

AsiaNorth KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTrani
North Korean Deployment Sparks Fears of Escalation – Even ‘World War’ – in Ukraine
Badge
deep dive

North Korean Deployment Sparks Fears of Escalation – Even ‘World War’ – in Ukraine

DEEP DIVE — North Korea’s deployment of thousands of troops to Russia – presumably for use in the war against Ukraine – has stunned policymakers and [...] More

AsiaRussiaNorth KoreaEuropeReporting

The Threat from North Korea 

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

The Threat from North Korea 

OPINION — North Korea is now aligned unmistakably with a revanchist Russian Federation, providing artillery shells, ballistic missiles and now troops [...] More

AsiaNorth KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTrani

U.S. Adversaries Create a Web of Threats

Beth Sanner

U.S. Adversaries Create a Web of Threats

EXPERT Q&A — Closer collaboration between China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea - increasingly referred to as the ‘Axis of Authoritarians’ - requires [...] More

ChinaRussiaIranNorth KoreaBeth Sanner

Americans Need to Understand We're Living in a New Era of Global Threats

John McLaughlin

Americans Need to Understand We're Living in a New Era of Global Threats

EXPERT Q&A – Experts have been concerned in recent times, about national security threats emanating from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea but a [...] More

ChinaRussiaIranNorth KoreaUkraine
Dealing with 'Axis of Authoritarians' Requires Greater U.S. Policy Risk
Badge
expert analysis

Dealing with 'Axis of Authoritarians' Requires Greater U.S. Policy Risk

BOTTOM LINE UP FRONT — Individually, China, Russia, Iran and North Korea consistently rank high on the U.S. list of global threats but national and [...] More

ChinaRussiaIranNorth KoreaMiddle EastEuropeAsiaReporting

Dear Presidential Candidates: North Korea is Part of Putin's Strategy

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Dear Presidential Candidates: North Korea is Part of Putin's Strategy

OPINION — The mutual defense pact that Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un signed on June 19, was a victory for [...] More

North KoreaRussiaAmbassador Joseph DeTrani

A Dark Path Ahead for North Korea

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

A Dark Path Ahead for North Korea

OPINION — As Russian President Vladimir Putin visits North Korea, it’s important to keep in mind the weapons including artillery shells and ballistic [...] More

North KoreaRussiaNuclearUkraineAmbassador Joseph DeTrani

More Must Be Done to Prevent a Nuclear Nightmare

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

More Must Be Done to Prevent a Nuclear Nightmare

OPINION — The proliferation of nuclear weapons and the recent Iranian attack on Israel are two reasons why we should upgrade our missile defense [...] More

ChinaCipher Brief Expert ViewIranNorth KoreaNuclearAmbassador Joseph DeTrani

Prime Minister Kishida’s Successful Visit – A Time to Reflect

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Prime Minister Kishida’s Successful Visit – A Time to Reflect

OPINION — The state visit of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was a timely reminder, by one of our closest allies, that the tense situation in [...] More

AsiaCipher Brief Expert ViewNorth KoreaChinaAmbassador Joseph DeTrani