Jerome A. Cohen states that even with Kim Jong-Il's death the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is likely to exist for some time, and the United States should vigorously promote, not impede, its participation in the world.

Paul B. Stares argues that in the wake of Kim Jong-il's death, rather than wait for signs out of Pyongyang, the United States should now signal its interest in developing a more productive relationship with North Korea.

Scott A. Snyder asks, "What are the prospects for a unified, nuclear-free Korea?"

Richard N. Haass says many of the world's bad guys departed the scene this past year, but looking back, 2011 was a year of great transition—not of transformation.

CFR's Scott A. Snyder and Paul B. Stares analyze the effect of the death of Kim Jong-il on North Korea's domestic politics and discuss U.S. policy toward the Korean peninsula.

Elliott Abrams says the longevity of Kim Il-sung's dynasty is the curse of North Korea.

Following the death of leader Kim Jong-il, the transition of power in North Korea could see Pyongyang engaging in further provocative activities, says CFR's Paul Stares.

Will Kim Jong-il's twenty-seven-year-old son assume power in a smooth transition or is a destabilizing succession struggle ahead for reclusive North Korea? CFR's Scott Snyder says the next few weeks will provide crucial signals.

Council on Foreign Relations Media Conference Call on North Korea

CFR's Scott Snyder and Paul Stares discuss the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il and its impact on the country's future, regional stability, and U.S. policy.

Scott A. Snyder discusses the implications of Kim Jong-Il's death.

Kim Jong-il's death has prompted discussion about the future of the isolated country and its nuclear weapons program. Experts cited in this CFR Backgrounder believe a post-Kim regime in North Korea would remain a tough nuclear negotiator.

Development specialist Sohn Hyuk-sang analyzes the Busan-High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, arguing a new future for poverty reduction.

As the leaders of eighteen countries gather in Bali, Indonesia, this week for the East Asia Summit, Korea University professor Lee Shin-wha argues that there is a deep disconnect between East Asian summitry and Northeast Asian security needs that is likely to remain.

Despite U.S. Congressional ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (KORUS), KORUS ratification by the South Korean National Assembly has proven to be more difficult than anticipated. While Korean public opinion towards KORUS remains supportive, the task of securing ratification for KORUS has been made more difficult by the Seoul mayoral bi-election win of independent progressive Park Won-soon in a vote seen as a rejection of the Lee Myung-bak administration's failure to deliver on growth policies and as evidence of an underlying shift in Korean public attitudes toward distribution over growth.

As South Korea marks the third anniversary of its green growth policy, the country has gained international diplomatic benefits from efforts to promote the policy while domestic implementation of green growth policies has been mixed.

Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Stephen W. Bosworth, says it is necessary for the United States to continue to engage with North Korea.

Han Sung-joo, former South Korean foreign minister and former ambassador of the ROK to the United States, writes on emerging challenges to U.S.-ROK relations as Lee Myung-bak visits the United States this week.

The U.S. ratification of the stalled Free Trade Agreements with South Korea, Colombia, and Panama indicates that "there is a possibility, despite the very great partisan divisions in Congress, of bipartisan cooperation on economic issues," says CFR's Edward Alden. However, Alden emphasizes that "it is important not to overstate the potential job creation benefits" of the agreements.

As Presidents Lee and Obama reaffirm the relationship and celebrate congressional approval of a long-pending free trade deal, they must also focus on difficult challenges ahead with North Korea and China's rise, say experts.