Northeast Asia

Before North Korea conducted its latest missile test, President Barack Obama and other world leaders were condemning the regime for its act of aggression. But North Korea will inevitably go unpunished for this provocation -- just as it has in the past. The country's nuclear arsenal, potential for collapse, and reputation for unpredictability all keep its foes from retaliating.

Prior to the 2011 earthquake, Kan had supported the expansion of Japan's system of nuclear power plants. The disaster at Fukushima Daiichi changed that. This is his case for a nuclear-free future.

The suddenness of Kim Jong Il’s death has sparked fears of instability on the Korean peninsula and beyond. Fearing a messy collapse, Beijing and Washington are trying to promote a smooth transition. But rooting for stability means rooting for the continuation of arguably the most despicable government on earth.

With the death of Kim Jong Il, the system of dynastic succession in North Korea seems an anachronistic anomaly. But there is additional cause for alarm with this transition. When Kim took over 13 years ago, he'd spent more than a decade preparing. Today his son, however, is taking the reins with barely any experience at all.