South Korea President Park Geun-hye’s visit to the United States was overshadowed by a scandal surrounding Park’s spokesman. While some believe the scandal distracted from Park’s agenda, Donald Kirk postulates that the trip helped cement ties between South Korea and the US, offering hope for future six-party talks with North Korea.

Throughout the recent tensions on the Korean Peninsula, it is often forgot that South Korea had an active nuclear program during the 1970s under Park Chung-hee. Given the provocations of Kim Jong-un, Ted Carpenter discusses the implications of a nuclear South Korea.

While China is repeatedly mentioned as the country that can and should play a special role in solving the North Korean crisis, Wang Wenfeng writes that China has only limited leverage and influence over North Korea, and oftentimes it’s not what China wants, but whether North Korea listens.

North Korea’s satellite launch and subsequent nuclear test has greatly increased concerns that conflict could quickly spread across the Korean peninsula. Ted Galen Carpenter writes that without meaningful concessions by the United States, China will continue to give Kim Jong-un a free pass and limit the enforcement of UN sanctions.

Following North Korea’s third nuclear test, Dr. Andrei Lankov writes that China’s strategic goals for its rogue ally are defined by “three no’s.” Unfortunately for the international community, a nuclear North Korea rests at the bottom of this list.

North Korea's third nuclear test is a game changer not only for the United States and Japan, but also for the regime’s last ally, China. The official Chinese reaction to North Korea’s latest provocation was stern: China is “strongly dissatisfied and resolutely opposed” to the test, and it is calling for the resumption of international talks.

While the United Nations Security Council discusses the possibility of even more sanctions against North Korea, Su Xiaohui promotes a new approach to stabilize tensions.

Following the Democratic People's Republic of Korea’s third nuclear explosion test, Tao Wenzhao writes that six-party talks must continue to address the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula; and suggests that the DPRK should be gradually let into the international community, especially the East Asian regional community.

In the West, North Korea’s recent missile launch has been framed as still another example of nuclear blackmail. The launch, the counter-productive international sanctions, the mounting nuclear threats and Kim Jong-un’s call for “radical turn” suggest a new diplomatic opportunity for Washington and Beijing alike and it should be seized now.