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North Korea

Trump’s Next Test: Kim Jong Un’s Bid for Legitimacy and a Nuclear Normalization Deal

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

Trump’s Next Test: Kim Jong Un’s Bid for Legitimacy and a Nuclear Normalization Deal

EXPERT OPINION — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is ready to do business with President Donald Trump. Over the past few years, Mr. Kim has burnished [...] More

North KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTraniAsia

The Latest

How U.S. Dialogue Can Break the North Korea-Russia Alliance

Ambassador Joseph DeTrani

How U.S. Dialogue Can Break the North Korea-Russia Alliance

OPINION — It’s time to resume talks with North Korea. During the past five years, when we didn’t talk to North Korea, they built more nuclear weapons [...] More

North KoreaAmbassador Joseph DeTraniAsia
Welcome to the Gray Zone and the Future of Great Power Competition
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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
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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
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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