Reports of a newly operational nuclear enrichment facility in North Korea highlight the regime's defiance of U.S. policy and UN sanctions as well as China's increasing closeness with North Korea, says CFR's Scott Snyder.

Further provocations by North Korea as well as other dangerous military interactions on or around the Korean peninsula remain a serious risk and carry the danger of unintended escalation.

Peter M. Beck discusses Kim Jong-Il's efforts to make family rule permanent in North Korea, and complications that may make smooth leadership transition feasible just in the short run.

Scott A. Snyder says North Korea is increasingly dependent on China, and no longer appears to attach the same priority to improving relations with the United States.

With Tuesday's military promotions, North Korea's Kim Jong-Il created a triumvirate to succeed him. But this "collective leadership" will not change relations with the United States anytime soon, says  CFR expert Sue M. Terry.

A meeting of North Korean officials is expected to signal succession to Kim Jong-Il. Experts say the power transition is unlikely to herald reforms, and urge efforts to engage with the regime.

North Korea's elites prepare for a new regime they hope will look at lot like the current one.

Washington's new sanctions against North Korea, focusing on international financial institutions and banking systems, are likely to have more impact than trade sanctions, says North Korea economic expert Marcus Noland.

This report by Amnesty International compiles interviews from North Koreans documenting widespread malnutrition-induced illness and lack of health care, both due to poor government policies.

Is it too late to convince North Korea and Iran to dismantle their nuclear programs?

China is unlikely to exert more pressure on North Korea, so Washington should redirect its own role in brokering inter-Korean peace and engaging Pyongyang, says CFR's Nicole E. Lewis.

The CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force report on U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula assesses current U.S. policy toward both North and South Korea. The report identifies three essential elements of an internationally coordinated response to the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear development effort: first, denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and an approach that attempts to resolve rather than simply manage the issue; second, regional cohesion, enabled by close U.S.-South Korea relations; and third, China's cooperation and active engagement.

The Obama administration should mount a more vigorous effort to address North Korea's nuclear weapons program, says Charles L. (Jack) Pritchard, co-chairman of a new CFR Independent Task Force report.

Members of the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force on U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula discuss the findings and recommendations of the report.

This Task Force is made possible in part by generous support from the Korea Foundation.

This Task Force report identifies three elements of an internationally coordinated response to the threat posed by North Korea: first, denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and an approach that attempts to resolve rather than simply manage the nuclear issue; second, regional cohesion, enabled by close U.S.-South Korea relations; and third, China's cooperation and active engagement.

Sharon LaFraniere interviews North Koreans on the dire situation of the state-run economy in North Korea in the aftermath of the November 30, 2009 currency devaluation.