News + Media

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (R) and South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) gesture as they watch the large-scale gymnastic and artistic performance at the May Day Stadium in Pyongyang on 19 September, 2018, after their summit. (Pyeongyang Press Corps / AFP Photo)

In the News

September 20, 2018

Kim to visit Seoul, shut missile site

AFPThe Asean Post

Kim is playing this brilliantly: verify that I dismantle a single site that I no longer need anyway while I mass-produce the missiles the site helped me develop,Vipin Narang of MIT said.

President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Shinzō Abe of Japan at the United Nations General Assembly (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

Analysis + Opinion

September 20, 2018

How is Japan dealing with a volatile United States?

Mayumi FukushimaInternational Affairs

Managing its relationship with the United States is one of the core challenges facing Japan, as it will need to attempt to resolve the inherent tension between enhancing the alliance relationship as well as reducing its dependence on the US.

  The Sohae Satellite Launching Station was the site of North Korea's first successful space launch in 2012. The North now says it will dismantle the facility. David Guttenfelder/AP

In the News

September 19, 2018

Experts are underwhelmed by North Korea's promise to dismantle missile site

Geoff BrumfielNPR

Narang says, North Korea is widely believed to be building up its nuclear arsenal: They claim they're already mass-producing the ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons that they've already tested.

Leaders of two Koreas parade through Pyongyang ahead of nuclear talks | Reuters

In the News

September 18, 2018

North, South Korean leaders meeting

Lisa MullinsWBUR Here & Now

The leaders of North and South Korea met for the third time to try to revive the stalled nuclear talks.  Jim Walsh discusses whether the meeting might lead to more talks between President Trump and Kim Jong Un.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in walks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un upon arrival in Pyongyang, North Korea on Sept. 18. (Pyongyang Press Corps)

In the News

September 18, 2018

Summit may be the grand theater Kim needs to show his people

The Associated PressThe New York Times

Vipin Narang said Kims efforts this week fit into his new strategic line. Nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles are quietly being mass-produced but Kim wont flaunt them. All attention and focus is on economic development.

On the International Space Station June 14, 2015 the crew of Expedition 44 prepare to observe Flag Day in the USA in the Cupola, the 360 degree observation point.

Analysis + Opinion

September 18, 2018

Does America need a space force?

Harvey M. SapolskyTexas National Security Review

President Trump wants to create a space force, America’s sixth armed service, to assure US dominance in space. It doesn’t matter that America already has a sixth armed service … and is already dominant in space, writes Harvey Sapolsky. 

In the News

September 17, 2018

Korean summit: can Moon and Kim deliver Trump a nuclear win, or is it all talk?

John PowerSouth China Morning Post

“Our alliance dynamics are complicated by the fact that South Korea, and President Moon in particular, may prefer a less robust US-South Korea alliance in order to normalise relations with North Korea…,” said Vipin Narang.

Protesters trample a portrait of Iran’s supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the storming and burning of the Iranian consulate in Basra, southeast of Baghdad, last week. (Nabil al-Jurani/AP)

Analysis + Opinion

September 14, 2018

Who to blame for the protests in Basra, Iraq?

Marsin Alshamary and Safwan Al-AminThe Washingon Post

Basra’s protests are more about economic grievances than political ones. Although many of these grievances are shared by other Iraqis, they are felt most keenly by Basrawis, says Marsin Alshamary and Safwan Al-Aminmin in a recent opinion piece.

Henry Luce Foundation

News@E40

September 11, 2018

Luce fellowship deadline Oct 19

Friday, October 19, is the deadline for the Luce Scholars Program. Young scholars from a variety of intellectual fields will be placed in internships throughout Asia. Candidates must have no prior experience in the region. More information

After a Taliban attack in Ghazni, Afghanistan, on Aug.16, 2018.

Analysis + Opinion

September 10, 2018

This 9/11, end the Afghanistan War

Barry R. PosenUSA Today

“It is time for this war in Afghanistan to end,” Gen. John Nicholson said as he relinquished command of U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Seventeen years of war have shown no plausible theory of success to justify additional U.S. costs and more killing in Afghanistan.

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