Six decades after the Korean War (1950-53) was ended by the signing of an armistice agreement, the two Koreas are still technically at war. The fragile truce, signed on July 27, 1953, has contributed to the volatility and hostility seen on the Korean Peninsula today.

The recent meeting between South Korean and Chinese officials was welcomed by the United States. However, all parties should remain conscious of the delicate issues at hand, including rising Japanese nationalism, these state of the Chinese economy, the stability of the Korean Peninsula.

The time has come for China to rebalance its traditional geostrategic interests with its new role as a global leader – and that means adopting a policy of disciplined engagement toward North Korea. Only then will an internationally coordinated response to the North's nuclear ambitions be possible.

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.