Outside the Beltway

North Korea’s Dear Leader has baited the President of the United States into a trap.

The Kim regime released a statement saying they were open to talks and would not conduct provocative tests while they were ongoing.

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham says war against North Korea would be worth it. Ignoring the fact that it would result in casualties unlike anything America has seen since the Vietnam War.

John Bolton is leading a cry for preemptive war against North Korea.

President Trump has announced that he’ll be imposing significant tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. This is an unwise decision.

With the Winter Olympics over, the next step on the Korean Peninsula is utterly unclear.

China’s Xi Jinping solidified his hold on power well into the next decade over the weekend.

Some thoughts on the biggest Marvel blockbuster yet. [Modest spoilers]

President Trump continues to make irresponsible and dangerous threats in connection with American policy toward North Korea.

President Trump has announced a new round of sanctions against North Korea, but they are unlikely to work given the unrealistic nature of the Administration’s current policy toward North Korea.

President Trump’s tweets, other public statements, and actions are causing world leaders to doubt the reliability of the United States on the world stage.

Why does the U.S. continue to pursue the seemingly impossible goal of denuclearization with regard to North Korea? In part, it’s because we’re still locked into thirty-year-old rhetoric.

Expecting North Korea to agree to diplomatic talks that are aimed at getting rid of their nuclear weapons is asking for the impossible, and ensuring there will be no progress on the diplomatic front for the foreseeable future.

The military options thus far presented for dealing with the DPRK have not been satisfying.

When it comes to foreign policy, Donald Trump has no over-arching philosophy and little knowledge, so don’t expect anything approaching a coherent doctrine from his Administration.

The Trump Administration has acted in a manner to create the impression that there is “no daylight” between the United States and Israel. This is a myth, and pursuing such a goal poses real dangers for America’s national interests.

The recent cooling of relations between North and South Korea has led to some talk of eventual reunification, but for many South Koreans that idea is a non-starter.

The economy grew in the final quarter of 2017, but at a slower pace than earlier in the year and far slower than what the President has promised.

President Trump is apparently pressuring the President of South Korea to give him the credit for talks between North and South Korea that the United States isn’t involved in at all.

Some progress on easing tensions between North and South Korea.

Donald Trump’s irrational tweets are once again focused on the leader of North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un is extending an olive branch of sorts to South Korea while simultaneously claiming success in achieving a nuclear deterrent.

Transgender Americans will be able to enlist in the military beginning January 1st thanks to a ruling from a Federal District Court Judge.

U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is floating the idea that the U.S. might not take part in the Olympics due to safety concerns. This would be a foolish decision.

Russia has been barred from participating in the 2018 Winter Olympics after an investigation uncovered extensive evidence of cheating.

North Korea tests another missile, and sends another message to the United States and its allies in Asia and the Pacific.

A recent defection from North Korea gives us a peek inside the DPRK, and it’s not pretty.

President Trump returns home from an Asian trip that wasn’t exactly impressive.

A preemptive attack on North Korea would be illegal, immoral and, most importantly, insane.

On North Korea, there are two options, deterrence and war. And only one of those options makes sense.

America has become involved in conflicts around the world, largely without the knowledge of the American people or the consent of their representatives, and it doesn’t appear that’s going to end anytime soon.

Despite the fact that everyone seems to agree that Iran is complying with the nuclear weapons deal, President Trump took steps that will undermine that agreement and do serious damage to American credibility around the world.

Reports are indicating that President Trump will decertify the nuclear weapons deal with Iran. This would be a foolish and potentially dangerous mistake.

Donald Trump’s increasingly confrontational rhetoric regarding North Korea is leading to similar rhetoric from the DPRK, and concern among top diplomats.

Commerce Department figures report a measurable drop in international travel to the United States since the start of 2017.

America’s longest war seems likely to soon turn into America’s never-ending war.

Absent significant changes, expecting normal diplomatic relationships with the DPRK is a pipe dream.

At a time when our alliance is more important than ever, President Trump is responding by attacking our ally.

More provocative action from North Korea, and another reminder that there are no easy answers to the problems represented by the Kim regime.

The people who would most immediately be impacted by a war on the Korean peninsula don’t seem quite so concerned. Perhaps we should take a cue from them.

Things are getting far more complicated on the Korean Peninsula. Diplomacy isn’t working, and a military option would most likely lead to disaster.

Another escalation on the Korean peninsula.

More provocation from Pyongyang.

Donald Trump’s first overseas trip went about as badly as you’d expect it would.

Donald Trump has been President for nearly four months, but has yet to name Ambassadorial picks for many slots including several important posts.

Another provocative move by North Korea.

South Korea has elected a new President who breaks with his impeached predecessor in favoring dialogue with the North.

North Korea is pushing back against increased pressure from China over its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs.

The North Koreans failed to successfully test a longer-range missile again yesterday, but tensions on the Korean Peninsula seem destined to increase in any case.