The precipitous chill in U.S.-Japan relations after the Democratic Party of Japan came to power in 2009 and mishandled security relations should offer a sobering warning to Korean and American officials. As close as Tokyo and Washington have traditionally been, heated domestic rhetoric and policy miscues quickly damaged the relationship, which is still recovering.

Putin's decision on Monday to end the system of direct popular election of Russia's governors, and to have the Russian parliament elected on the basis of slates chosen by national party leaders he mostly controls, is an unambiguous step toward tyranny in Russia. It cannot be justified as part of the war on terrorism. Putin has had these plans ready for months. He is cynically using the horrific terrorist attack in Beslan as his excuse.

Review of The Two Koreas, by Don Oberdorfer.

Review of Troubled Tiger by Mark Clifford.

A new book by former president Jimmy Carter reveals the full extent of his character flaws and tendency to mislead readers.

James R. Lilley, the former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea, discusses the history, trends, and possible outcomes of a nuclear weapons program in North Korea.

The Sunshine Policy, an effort to engage North Korea initially implemented under South Korean president Kim Dae Jung, appears increasingly ineffective in light of North Korea's continued nuclear threat and oppression of its people.

North Korea's nuclear weapons program is a challenge that can be best managed by an approach involving all countries in Northeast Asia and the United States.