Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- November 20, 2017

Many observers, including this author, were surprised to see China back such tough sanctions | Photo: UN

Andrei Lankov, NK News: Why Beijing is changing its tune on North Korea

China increasingly wants sanctions and pressure - but on its own terms

Song Tao, a prominent diplomat and head of the International Liaison Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived in North Korea on Friday for a four-day visit as a special envoy of Beijing.

Song Tao’s trip comes at a time when relations between North Korea and China are changing fast: since mid-August, Beijing has been increasingly tough on its neighbor and, technically, ally.

Readers with good memories may recall that we have seen this before: in recent years there have been many episodes when observers claimed that China had finally decided to get serious about economic sanctions on North Korea.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- November 20, 2017

Trump Declares North Korea a "State Sponsor of Terrorism." Does North Korea Really Commit Terrorism? -- Joshua Keating, Slate

U.S. To Impose More Sanctions On North Korea, But How Effective Will They Be? -- Jackie Northam, NPR

North Korea's 'ballistic submarine': Will Kim's gamble pay off? -- Julian Ryall, DW

Escalatory Dangers Could Push North Korea Into a War -- Michael Kraig, National Interest

Will Zimbabwe's Mugabe Resign or Be Impeached? -- Katelyn Newman, US News and World Report

Who is in charge of Zimbabwe? -- -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

Coup in Zimbabwe: A win-win for China – for now -- Grant Newsham, Asia Times

Saudi Arabia Gathers Allies Against Iran 'Terror,' but Lebanon, Iraq and Syria Don't Show -- Tom O'Connor, Newsweek

What is Mohammed bin Salman's next move? -- Inside Story/Al Jazeera

The House Finally Debates the War in Yemen. But the War Will Go On. -- Daniel R. DePetris, National Interest

Angela Merkel's career in jeopardy as Germany's coalition talks fail -- James Glenday, ABC News Online

Germany's Political Crisis Is No Tragedy -- Leonid Bershidsky, Bloomberg

Pinera faces battle to win Chile presidency against resurgent left -- Antonio De la Jara and Mitra Taj, Reuters

Real Puerto Rico Fiasco Starts After Recovery -- Timothy L. O'Brien, Bloomberg

The coming economic downturn in Canada -- Deb Shaw, Markets Now

Brazil Is on Track to Get Its Own Trump -- Mac Margolis, Bloomberg