North Korea, marginalised as an issue in recent years by a host of other problems, looks likely to return to the forefront of international concern in 2009. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has already noted that North Korea might be sliding—much earlier than expected—into a leadership crisis. 

This Strategic Insights, authored by Rod Lyon and Keah Molomby, explores the challenges posed by the intersection of the looming succession difficulties in Pyongyang and the North’s vintage nuclear weapons program.