Korean Peninsula tensions are high, in part fueled by U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. Experts say the United States must continue to work toward North Korea's denuclearization and prepare for volatility with a leadership change in Pyongyang.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Scott A. Snyder says that unless evidence of leadership instability in North Korea is concrete, diplomacy with the North must continue.

Paul B. Stares argues that the World Cup offers an unparalleled stage for shaming and further isolating North Korea in response to its sinking of a South Korean naval vessel.

Richard N. Haass says the United States can send a message to North Korea by signing the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.

North Korea's alleged sinking of a South Korean ship could have been part of a legitimization process to prepare for a new leader to succeed the ailing Kim Jong-Il, says North Korea expert Victor Cha.

South Korea's charge that North Korea caused the sinking of one of its warships is likely to result in a drawn-out effort to get the UN Security Council to censure Pyongyang, writes CFR's Scott Snyder.

Absent evidence of N. Korea's involvement, S. Korea's response to the recent sinking of one of its ships has been measured. But public anger about the incident will impact June elections and increase scrutiny of the defense ministry, says CFR Korea expert Scott Snyder.