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
North Korea
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 legitimize the […] More
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 aggression […] More
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
The Latest
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 on the ground to […] More
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 a more holistic […] More
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 new […] More
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
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 […] More
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 missiles, that […] More
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 capabilities […] More
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 […] More
Putin’s Strategic Success with North Korea and China
OPINION — Vladimir Putin has compared himself to Peter the Great, as he tries to recreate the Russian Empire. On August 8, 2008, Russia invaded […] More
China’s President has Power Over Kim Jong Un. Will he Use it for Denuclearization?
OPINION – During the past two years, North Korea has launched over 100 ballistic missiles, to include hypersonic, short and intermediate-range, cruise, and submarine-launched ballistic […] More
Containing the North Korean Nuclear Threat will not be easy in 2024
OPINION / EXPERT PERSPECTIVE — On December 18, 2023, North Korea successfully launched a solid fuel, road mobile Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) – Hwasong-18 – […] More
A Psychiatrist’s Take on Those Holding Global Power in 2024
OPINION — As President Joseph Biden enters a key election year in which many national polls show him trailing former President Donald Trump – his […] More