Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 8, 2018

Nicholas Eberstadt, New York Times: Can South Korea Avoid Getting Played by the North?

The talks set to open this week between the North and South Korean governments are off to an inauspicious start: Even before negotiators could settle into their seats, the North had pocketed its first concession from the South, offering nothing in return.

North Korean negotiators are practiced hands in the art of “we win and you lose” deal-making. Unless the team of President Moon Jae-in of South Korea has the fortitude to stand up to such ploys and has a solid game plan of its own, there is a serious risk that the South, its allies and much of the international community will come out of these apparent peace overtures even less secure than before.

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Commentaries, Analysis, And Editorials -- January 8, 2018

The Koreas Start Talking: And nuclear weapons aren't the only issue. -- Krishnadev Calamur, The Atlantic

What will come of talks between the two Koreas? -- Musun Kim, Al Jazeera

Panmunjeom, the ‘real’ DMZ and a tourism of tragedy -- Andrew Salmon, Asia Times

Cracks in Russia-Iran alliance open options for Trump -- Josh Cohen, Reuters

Australia’s hard choice between China and US -- Lachlan Colquhoun, Asia Times

The Politics of Chinese Credit Risk -- Christopher Whalen, National Interest

An Ominous New Year for India -- Mihir Sharma, Bloomberg

Analysis: Iran protests show danger of economic woes -- Jon Gambrell, AP

Is Trump Stuck With an Iran Deal He Loathes? -- Susan B. Glasser, Politico

Macron’s snub sends Erdogan further into Putin’s embrace -- Sami Moubayed, Asia Times

Will Fatah launch 'intifada of independence'? -- Uri Savir, Al-Monitor

Power stacked against SE Asia's poor as China dams Mekong -- AFP

There’s a better way to unite Europe -- John Lloyd, Reuters

The End of the US-Pakistan Alliance -- George Friedman, Geopolitical Futures

Time for Germany to Learn to Lead -- Christiane Hoffmann, Spiegel Online