MARCH 2 2017

Assassination of Kim Jong Nam: World reaction

SOUTH KOREA

Any US policy on the North should be formulated and implemented in close consultation with South Korea and Japan.

CHINA

Now, with ties returning to a slightly warmer basis and both sides trying to figure out how to steer the relationship forward, North Korea has provided a good opportunity for Beijing and Washington to assess the possibilities for greater cooperation.

JAPAN

The Kim Jong Un regime has been growing more autocratic since last year's party convention (...) And there are growing fears that North Korea will respond provocatively to joint military drills by the United States and South Korea in March.

USA

China made a positive move recently in curtailing coal imports from North Korea, but sanctions could be intensified still further against Pyongyang’s financial system and the Chinese companies that do business there. There must be no ambiguity in the message from the United States and its allies: This was outlaw behavior.

The belief that North Korea has artillery pieces armed with CW shells near the DMZ, and within range of Seoul, is one reason the United States and South Korea believe military responses to Kim’s provocations are so risky.