The most recent round of mini-détente on the Korean peninsula began with a surprise visit by a high-caliber North Korean delegation to the closing ceremony of the Asian Games last October. Though the two sides agreed to more meetings later in October or November, North Korea backed off, citing consternation over activists’ leaflet campaigns. On December 29, Seoul’s unification minister, Ryoo Kihl-jae, sent a letter to the North, seeking negotiations on bilateral issues such as family reunions for those separated by the Korean War (1950-53).

Just months after President Vladimir Putin erased $32 billion in Cuban debt, Russia's ties with the Caribbean island are coming under increasing strain as the ruble collapses and President Barack Obama re-establishes diplomatic ties and eases a five-decade embargo.

Iran’s President Hasan Rouhani has given an interview to NBC–his first with a US media outlet. In it, he said his country will never build nuclear weapons and added that he has full authority to negotiate with the West over the country’s nuclear program. Rouhani’s interview comes a day after Iran freed noted human rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh and another 10 detainees.