North Korea has vowed to take steps towards denuclearisation, but evidence shows we shouldn’t hold our breath. The shortfalls of the summit in June leave much to be discussed at the inter-Korean summit currently being held in Pyongyang, Remy Wendel writes.

China’s growing assertiveness in the region is a response to fears of containment by the US, Lloyd Rhodes writes.

For the first time in centuries the most powerful nation on Earth is going to be non-Western, and this has terrified policymakers from Canberra to Washington.
The almost existential panic which has characterised the response has combined an incredible capacity for self delusion with an almost impressive degree of arrogance that even our Colonial forbears would be staggered by.
Bit players like Australia have mindlessly “reaffirmed” support for the US alliance, as if it was ever in doubt, while the US itself has pursued a “Pivot to Asia” that has about as much substance as a stereotypical American meal.
Neither of these speech acts do anything to change the facts on the ground.

Dominic Huntley explores the discrepancy between words and action in US policy in Asia.