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Reflections on a Summit

By Chung-in Moon

As a special delegate to both the 2000 and 2007 summits between North and South Korea, the first such meetings ever held on the divided peninsula, I was fortunate to witness the changes in North-South relations over those seven years as reflected in the differences in ambiance, protocol, and agreements reached at the two summits.

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The Inter-Korean Summit: One Good Turn Deserves Another
By Leon V. Sigal

Accessing the Nuclear Tests in North Korea
By Jon B. Wolfsthal

Excelling in the Shadows: Singapore's Unsung Hero
by David Plott

Polarizing Views: Islam,
Israel and the War on Terror
By Sadanand Dhume

Language of Awe: The Rise of India and China
By David Plott

The Environmental Cost of Asia's Growth
By Simon SC Tay and Gavin Chua Hearn Yuit

		A Letter from the Editors Chung-in Moon and David Plott
		Dear Reader, Sharply higher food prices are weighing heavily on the dining tables of consumers worldwide. In poorer parts of the globe, including many in developing Asia, these price rises pose a serious threat to political stability if they continue unchecked... more... PDF Version
		Cover Story: Unequal Portions: The Perilous Politics of Food
		Food Fight: Why the Current Crisis Threatens Global Stability By Lester R. Brown
		Past food crises have been largely event driven. The current crisis is starkly different. It is the result of global trends that pose long-term challenges to food supplies. PDF Version
		Manufacturing a Food Crisis: Lessons for the World Bank, IMF, and WTO By Walden Bello
		Much of the suffering in poor parts of the world caused by rising food prices is man-made. Neoliberal agricultural policies have left them at the mercy of global markets. PDF Version
		The Anatomy of a Rice Crisis By John Berthelsen
		Geography, a burgeoning population and a corrupt and inattentive government in the Philippines have defined the country’s vulnerability to rice shortages. PDF Version
		Markets and Famine in North Korea By Stephen Haggard, Marcus Noland and Erik Weeks
		North Korea is no stranger to food shortages. With global agricultural prices soaring, the country is set to experience yet another famine. PDF Version
		The Debate: Who Should Control the Proliferation Security Initiative?
		Put the Proliferation Security Initiative Under the UN By Mark Valencia
		PSI has chalked up a mixed record, and lacks the kind of widespread support it needs. It’s time to move beyond an arrangement dominated by the US and entrust PSI to the UN. PDF Version
		Can PSI be Perfect in an Imperfect World? By Yong-joon Lee
		Putting the Proliferation Security Initiative under UN auspices would expose it to political complications in a world of compromised multilateralism. PDF Version
		Feature Essays
		Efforts for a Nuclear-Free North Korea Are Bearing Fruit By Leon V. Sigal
		It would be folly now to listen to critics who believe the US should take a tougher approach to North Korea. Diplomacy is starting to yield results. Don’t blow it. PDF Version
		Negotiation with North Korea: Clinton vs Bush By Walter C. Clemens, Jr.
		President Clinton and President Bush had very different approaches to dealing with North Korea. Comparing them puts into stark relief the failures of the Bush administration. PDF Version
		Russia Beyond the Looking Glass By Nikolay Petrov
		The recent ascent of Dimtry Medvedev to the Russian presidency has triggered the usual Western wishful thinking about new Russian leaders.Why was Medvedev chosen? PDF Version
		Shifting Ground: The Political Impact of China's Earthquake By Hugo Restall
		For millennia the Chinese have viewed earthquakes and other natural disasters as portents of a dynasty about to crumble. The latest earthquake,though, provoked a surprising reaction. PDF Version
		Taiwan's Political Balancing Act By Baohui Zhang
		After years of tension between China and Taiwan, the election f Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan’s new president in March was a turning point in cross-Strait relations. PDF Version
		Refining the Future: Oil and Gas in Indonesia By Andrew Steele
		Indonesia is at a crossroad. Its vast energy resources are being depleted. Unless it develops additional oil and gas reserves, it could lose the backbone of its economic development. PDF Version
		Book Review
		Excelling in the Shadows: Singapore's Unsung Hero Reviewed by David Plott
		Goh Keng Swee is the quintessential unsung hero. That is what makes Tan Siok Sun’s compelling biography such a welcome addition to the history of modern Singapore. PDF Version