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Ploughshares Blog: North Korea

Experts guess that North Korea has less than ten nuclear weapons, a tiny amount compared to nations like China, the US or Russia. But the Hermit Kingdom’s unpredictable and belligerent behavior, located on one of the world’s last remaining Cold War fault lines, make it an outsized threat. Following is analysis and opinion from Ploughshares Fund staff, grantees and guests on the ongoing struggle to deal with nuclear weapons in North Korea.
Jaw-Jaw: Why weaken the U.S. - South Korea alliance?
Sung Kim, an experienced and competent professional who has worked on Korean issues for years as a senior U.S. diplomat, has been nominated to the post of U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Our ally Seoul has indicated its support of the Kim nomination. So why has an unknown Senator – presumed widely to be from the GOP - placed a “hold” on the process at precisely the time when North-South relations – and by extension U.S.-DPRK talks - are finally showing small signs of improvement? Read more »
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Posted by Paul Carroll on September 7, 2011
North Korea, Bill Richardson, Lee Myung-bak, South Korea, Sung Kim, Victor Cha
Nuclear Funding Goes Virtual
Video games are often accused of promoting violence, stunting social skill growth and leading to inactive lifestyles. Now, they could be contributing to something even more dangerous – the creation of nuclear weapons. Read more »
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Posted by Megan Murphy on August 12, 2011
China, North Korea, food aid, Globe and Mail, Gold Farming, Kim Jong-il, Korean Workers Party, Nuclear proliferation, Nuclear Terrrorism, Office 39, Pyongyang, Video Games, World of Warcraft
Want to know about North Korea? Don’t ask the CIA, ask the AP
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Posted by Ploughshares Fund on July 15, 2011
North Korea, Cooperative Threat Reduction, Korean Peninsula
3 Million Cups of Tea?
It has been two years since North Korea set off its second nuclear test, and nearly as long since an American official has been to the Hermit Kingdom. Read more »
Posted by Paul Carroll on May 26, 2011
North Korea, Conflict Prevention
Beware the Ides of April
While Americans are filing their taxes, North Koreans are throwing a party. Read more »
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Posted by Paul Carroll on April 15, 2011
North Korea, Nuclear States, Cooperative Threat Reduction, U.S. Foreign Policy
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Grantee Gets Firsthand Look at North Korean Proliferation
North Korea's nuclear program has always been shrouded in secrecy.  Over the years the government of the DPRK has been very selective about who sees what and who goes where. On a recent trip to the Yongbyon nuclear complex Ploughshares Fund grantees John Lewis, Robert Carlin and Siegfried Hecker of the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC) were shown a clandestine, industrial-scale, uranium enrichment facility. Read more »
Posted by Sarah Beth Cross on December 15, 2010
North Korea, Proliferation
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CNN International on North Korea
Joe speaks to CNN International about recent events in North Korea.    Read more »
Posted by Reid Pauly on November 29, 2010
North Korea, Proliferation
Why North Korea Attack is Not a Crisis
By Paul Carroll and Joe Cirincione Headlines and pundits once again declare that we have a crisis on our hands in the wake of discovering that North Korea is building a new nuclear reactor and a uranium enrichment plant. More ominously, Tuesday brought news of direct artillery barrages between North and South Korea, heightening tensions and costing lives. But as provocative and serious as this is, neither is a crisis. Both fit a clear pattern of North Korean behavior -- a pattern that ultimately holds out the opportunity for progress. Read more »
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Posted by Joe Cirincione on November 24, 2010
North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy, Proliferation
To the Point
Joe speaks with KCRW's "To the Point" in a discussion on North Korea's recent military actions and U.S. policy options going forward. The interview begins 15 minutes 45 seconds into the show. Read more »
Posted by Ploughshares Fund on November 24, 2010
North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, U.S. Foreign Policy
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North Korea's New Nuclear Revelations: What Should the U.S. Do?
In the last two weeks, North Korea unveiled the construction of a new nuclear reactor and a uranium enrichment facility. These advances in the nuclear program demand that the United States reassess its policies toward North Korea and reinvigorate its attempts to engage with the rogue regime. Read more »
Posted by Reid Pauly on November 22, 2010
North Korea, Proliferation