Kim Jong-il was surrounded by myth-making, little is known about North Korea, and even less about the new ruler, Kim Jong-Un

The US-led international community must avoid over-reaction and deal with the situation tactically and tactfully without playing into the hands of those in North Korea who want an escalation of tension.

India, Japan, Vietnam and the Philippines should come together to discuss how to counter China's over-assertiveness, without creating a confrontational situation

While former US President Jimmy Carter was visiting the North Korean capital to secure the release of an American, Kim Jong-il decided to leave Pyongyang for China

That is the most worrying question for Beijing today and not the question, what is the US up to in India.

Webb's visit to Myanmar and his meeting with Than Shwe, coming in the wake of Clinton's visit to Pyongyang, indicates that the Obama Administration sees no problem in dealing with dictators and playing down human rights issues, if it will serve US na

Does the Clinton visit suggest a direct approach to N.Korea rather than dependence on China?

Obama or the likes of Ahmadinejad, Kim-Jong-il, Mulla Mohammad Omar, the Amir of the Afghan Taliban, or Osama bin Laden? One wishes it will be Obama, but one apprehends it may not be him.

Officially, China only expressed 'deep regret' at Pranab Mukherejee's remarks on Arunachal Pradesh. But its experts are talking about India's alleged military reinforcements in the border and are not ruling out the eruption of a 'partial border war'.

The Iranian response, despite public denials, has been to play the single card that history has stamped "effective" since 1949 -- raising the specter of becoming nuclear-armed.