Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 3, 2017

A North Korean navy truck carries the 'Pukkuksong' submarine-launched ballistic missile during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founding father, Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

James Pearson and Alexei Chernyshev, Reuters: As U.S. and China find common ground on North Korea, is Russia the wild card?

When North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent Lunar New Year greetings this year, the first card went to Russian President Vladimir Putin, ahead of leaders from China and other allies of the isolated country, according to its official news agency.

Some academics who study North Korea argue Kim could be looking for Russia to ease any pain if China, which accounts for about 90 percent of North Korea's trade, steps up sanctions against the isolated country as part of moves to deter its nuclear and missile programs.

Read more ....

Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- May 3, 2017

Can President Trump Cut a Deal for Peace on the Korean Peninsula? -- Douglas Macgregor, National Interest

US missile defense: Getting to 'ready' on North Korea threat -- CSM

How we’ll know when China really is working with the US on North Korea -- Steve Mollman, Quartz

Reuters War College Podcast: What North Korea Wants -- Matthew Gault, Reuters

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad: Propped up by Tehran and Moscow -- Kersten Knipp, DW

The Best Bet for Syria: Freeze the Conflict -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Iraq's Challenging Path to Reconciliation -- Katrin Kuntz, Spiegel Online

Will the COINdinistas Rise Again? -- Zach Abels, National Interest

As Abbas Meets Trump, Hamas Does a Flip, But Don’t Expect Peace in Our Time -- Jesse Rosenfeld, Daily beast

To Defeat Piracy in the Sulu Sea, Look to Land -- Ki Suh Jung, RCD

Could the French far left propel Marine Le Pen to victory? -- David Patrikarakos, The Spectator

The madura regime in Venezuela is on the road to a Soviet-Style collapse -- Anders Aslund, Foreign Policy

Washington's Hands Are Tied in Venezuela -- Ralph Espach, National Interest

Trump’s Sudden Interest in Southeast Asia -- Malcolm Cook, Lowy Insitute

Trump Inc. causes problems for president's foreign policy -- Darren Samuelsohn and Nahal Toosi, Politico