Two trends represent Korea today: South Korea's extraordinary economic boom and North Korea's stagnation and provocation.

Jerome A. Cohen says the consultative jury system in South Korea can serve as a model for both sides of the Taiwan strait.

Robert Dujarric and Peter M. Beck say the queen of England's trip to the Irish Republic should persuade the Japanese government to accept South Korea's invitation to allow the emperor to pay a visit.

Peter M. Beck argues that the initiative to form a Korea-Japan alliance will have to come from Seoul, given that Tokyo is preoccupied with recovering from the earthquake.

Scott Snyder and See-won Byun analyze the divergent responses throughout Asia to the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.

The latest inter-Korean talks were shadowed by North Korea's failure to apologize for the Cheonan sinking and Yeonpyeong Island shelling. This raises questions about renewed diplomacy on the North's nuclear program, says CFR's Scott Snyder.

Paul B. Stares discusses the volatility of the situation in Korea.

South Korea's exercises on Yeonpyeong are a response to last month's North Korean attack and growing public anger, says CFR's Scott Snyder, who urges greater China-U.S. cooperation on the Korean peninsula and strengthening South Korean defenses.

The new U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement has the potential to measurably spur the economy and reassure a top U.S. ally, but President Obama needs to take firmer steps to boost a flagging trade agenda, write CFR's Edward Alden and Scott Snyder.

Colonel Gian Gentile discusses the ability of the U.S. military to deal with the conflict in the Korean peninsula.

Leslie H. Gelb says North Korea's attack on a South Korean island likely won't escalate into a full-blown battle, but war is closer than in decades.

Peter M. Beck argues that the attack on Yeonpyeong is a sign of internal pressures on the North Korean regime--and a warning that America's current approach to the region isn't working.

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.

CFR's Scott A. Snyder discusses the CFR-sponsored Independent Task Force Report on U.S. Policy Toward the Korean Peninsula with students, as part of CFR's Academic Conference Call series.

Learn more about CFR's Academic Initiative.

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.

Noah Feldman explains why the draw-down of troops in Iraq is a beginning and not an end.

Tensions on the Korean peninsula need to be managed carefully so that growing South Korean and U.S. intolerance for Korean belligerence doesn't lead to unintended military escalation, say CFR's Scott Snyder and Paul Stares.