KEI Live

A Year of Change in U.S.-South Korea Relations

The past year has introduced both expanded opportunities and unprecedented volatilities to the U.S.-South Korea relationship. From nuclear submarine cooperation and a new investment agreement to tariff-related uncertainties and immigration-related tensions, the state of the partnership between the United States and Korea has important implications for regional and global security, economic, and political dynamics. What has changed, what has held, and what does the next year demand of both governments?

Two former U.S. ambassadors to Korea take stock. Ambassadors Philip Goldberg (2022–2025) and Kathleen Stephens (2008–2011) join KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder to assess where the alliance stands as President Donald Trump faces a crucial midterm election and his Korean counterpart Lee Jae Myung wraps up his first year in office.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

South Korea’s New Economic Development Strategy

The multilateral free trade system is weakening, the United States is turning inward through discretionary tariffs and industrial policy, and major economies are racing toward security- and resilience-driven production. For South Korea—a leading global trader with a small domestic market—the old playbook of export expansion alone no longer holds, former Minister for Trade Taeho Bark argues.

On May 27, 2026, the Korea Economic Institute of America hosted Bark to discuss these and other topics. He lays out a new external economic development strategy for Korea in which exports and outward foreign direct investment are not substitutes but complements: with intermediate goods now exceeding 70 percent of Korean exports, and overseas investment by Korean firms increasingly pulls demand for the high-value-added materials, components, and equipment that Korea supplies.

His prescription positions Korea as a global hub for advanced intermediate goods, a core region for future-oriented research and development, and a stronger competitive base for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Joining him is Jeffrey Schott, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, as discussant. Schott specializes in international trade policy and economic sanctions, work informed by his years as a U.S. Treasury official and his service on the U.S. delegation that negotiated the GATT Subsidies Code during the Tokyo Round. He is the author or editor of numerous books on trade.

Taeho Bark served as Minister for Trade of the Republic of Korea from 2011 to 2013 and was Korea’s candidate for Director-General of the World Trade Organization in 2013. He is President of the Seoul Forum for International Affairs and Professor Emeritus at the Graduate School of International Studies at Seoul National University, where he previously served as professor and dean.

Bark’s research will be featured in the upcoming edition of Korea Policy, KEI's flagship journal.

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The Iran War and Korea’s Energy Impact

The crisis in the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted global energy access. Northeast Asian countries, including South Korea, rely on maritime imports of crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) to meet their demand, prompting emergency tapping of strategic reserves, limits on the export of petroleum products, and an interim recalibration toward alternative sources such as nuclear power and coal.

An examination of the Iran war and its associated impact on global energy trade raises prominent questions for Korea and Northeast Asia watchers, including:

• How much of Korea’s energy comes from the Middle East?

• What will be the impact of the Iran war on energy prices and supply chains in both the short and long term?

• How are Seoul and other energy-import-dependent governments adjusting their strategies to mitigate their impacts?

Join KEI to discuss the main energy considerations for Korea in the wake of the Middle East crisis and what the global landscape for these resources will look like heading forward.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The Impact of Economic Issues on the Korean American Community

The Korea Economic Institute of America and the Korean American Institute convened the second panel of the Washington Policy Briefings on May 14, 2026, examining how U.S. tax, tariff, trade, and immigration policy shape Korean American households, businesses, and the broader U.S.-Korea economic relationship.

The Washington Policy Briefings are a joint KEI–KAI initiative to inform the Korean American community on the federal policy debates that most directly affect them and to promote civic engagement.

Speakers:

Sang H. Lee, Council President of the Borough of Palisades Park, NJ

Martin Kim, Advancing Justice | AAJC

Harold Kim, KPMG LLP

Hyun Jung "Jessie" Je, KEI

Moderated by Nils Wollesen Osterberg, KEI

Learn more about KEI's work on U.S.-Korea relations at keia.org. Check out KAI and learn how to get involved at ka.institute.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The Evolving Relationship Between the United States and Korea

The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) and the Korean American Institute (KAI) co-hosted Washington Policy Briefings on May 14, 2026. This day-long program examined the policy issues shaping the U.S.-Korea relationship and the Korean American community.

This first session focused on the political and security dimensions of the U.S.-South Korea alliance, including extended deterrence, North Korea, trilateral coordination with Japan, and the alliance's evolving role under the Trump administration.

Speakers:

Victor Cha, Center for Strategic and International Studies

Troy Stangarone, KEI

Andrew Yeo, Brookings Institution

Moderated by MJ Lee, CNN

Learn more about KEI's work on U.S.-Korea relations at keia.org. Check out KAI and learn how to get involved at ka.institute.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Redefining the U.S.-South Korea Partnership on Nuclear Technologies and Cybersecurity

The November 2025 U.S.-South Korea Joint Fact Sheet opened the door to renewed discussions on South Korea's civil uranium enrichment and spent fuel reprocessing and closer strategic alignment on cyberspace policies and cooperation, expanding the traditional areas of alliance cooperation to encompass civil nuclear energy and cyberspace.

The Lee Jae Myung administration plans to construct additional reactors at home and abroad, and its forthcoming cybersecurity strategy is expected to reaffirm the country's ambitions as an "AI powerhouse" in the cyber domain and tighten regulations on the private sector. Potential misalignment on scope and policy direction risks slowing momentum and creating new points of contention.

Join KEI for a discussion on opportunities and challenges facing growing nuclear and cyber cooperation between the United States and South Korea. The research presented here will appear in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Korea Policy, KEI's flagship academic journal.

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The American Roots of North Korea’s Personality Cult

The ideology sustaining the Kim dynasty did not emerge from a vacuum. It was shaped, in part, by American missionaries who built a Christian following in Pyongyang in the late nineteenth century. That is the argument at the heart of Korean Messiah, and it reframes how Americans should think about their relationship with the Korean Peninsula and the Kim regime.

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America and the Atlantic Council for a conversation with China bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal Jonathan Cheng on his landmark new book, Korean Messiah: Kim Il Sung and the Christian Roots of North Korea's Personality Cult.

Cheng traces the surprising American origins of the Kim dynasty's personality cult and asks what understanding those origins can tell us about the nature of the regime Washington and Seoul face today.

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Iran, North Korea, and the Proliferation Threat to the U.S. and Allies

Join KEI for a conversation with Bruce Bechtol, author of Rogue Allies: The Strategic Partnership between Iran and North Korea, on the security, economic, and strategic implications of North Korea-Iran relations and what Washington and Seoul should do about it.

Dr. Bechtol argues that Iran is North Korea's most important Middle Eastern partner. The two have maintained a strategic relationship for decades, forged on mutual animosity toward the United States and sustained largely through military and weapons sales.

As both regimes deepen their ties to Russia and China, that partnership is introducing new dimensions to an already dangerous proliferation threat to U.S. allies and partners in both the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

U.S.-South Korea Defense-Industrial Cooperation

U.S.–South Korea nuclear cooperation is moving from long-term ambition into active policy discussion following the November 2025 Joint Fact Sheet.

But what will it take to turn commitment into real capability, given legal, industrial, and political constraints?

Join KEI on April 28 at 10:00 a.m. ET for a discussion on defense-industrial cooperation and nuclear-powered attack submarines in the U.S.–ROK alliance.

Featuring insights from former Minister of Defense Acquisition Program Administration Eunho Kang and moderated by KEI’s Ellen Kim.

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U.S.-South Korea Nuclear Submarine Cooperation

In October 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his approval for South Korea to build a nuclear-powered attack submarine in the United States. But no progress has been made on the issue since then.

In this virtual event for KEI’s upcoming Korea Policy journal, KEI Senior Fellow and Director of Academic Programs Ellen Kim hosts Korea Institute for Defense Analyses’ Jihoon Yu to assess where U.S.-South Korea nuclear submarine cooperation stands after the May 11 meeting between Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-back.

Jihoon Yu is Research Fellow at the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses. He served twenty-seven years in the South Korean Navy as a submarine officer and strategic planner, was a member of the Navy's task force on the CVX light aircraft carrier, and is the principal author of "Vision 2045." He holds an MA in national security affairs from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School and a PhD in political science from Syracuse University.

Read more in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Korea Policy, KEI's flagship journal, which will be released in June.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Beyond Burden-Sharing: The Future of the U.S.-South Korea Alliance

Alliance modernization has moved fast. The publication of the U.S. National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy, combined with the ongoing war in Iran, has transformed what was once an abstract policy concept into an urgent operational reality, generating significant challenges and real opportunities for Washington and Seoul.

Can the two sides structure that conversation before political momentum outpaces institutional preparation? Dr. In-yo Seol of Korea National Defense University argues they can, and that alliance modernization need not mean a contraction of the U.S. commitment to South Korean security. Rather, it can be understood as a redistribution of roles built on converging military interests—a foundation more durable than the transactional logic of burden-sharing alone.

Join KEI for a discussion with Dr. Seol on the strategic logic underlying alliance modernization and its implications for both countries. His analysis appears in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of Korea Policy, KEI’s flagship journal.

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America’s New Defense Playbook and What It Means for the Indo-Pacific

On January 23, 2026, the U.S. government released its 2026 National Defense Strategy. The document explicitly identifies defending the U.S. homeland and interests in the Western Hemisphere as the country’s top priority. In the Indo-Pacific, U.S. defense priorities focus on balancing deterrence and peaceful coexistence with China and emphasizing enhanced burden-sharing with regional allies and partners.

A clear shift from previous administrations, the Trump administration’s pivot toward “critical but limited support” from U.S. forces in the region holds military, political, and strategic implications for allies and partners facing growing threats from North Korea and China.

Join KEI and the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security (IIPS) to discuss the evolution of U.S. defense priorities in the region and the implications of the newest defense strategy on South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.

Agenda

10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m. | Fireside Chat with Randall Schriver and Scott Snyder

10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. | Panel Discussion moderated by Jennifer Hong

Participants

Randall Schriver, Chairman of the Board at The Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

Scott Snyder, President and CEO, Korea Economic Institute of America

Ellen Kim, Director of Academic Affairs, Korea Economic Institute of America

Michael Mazza, Senior Director for Research, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

Yuki Tatsumi, Senior Director, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

Jennifer Hong (Moderator), Senior Director, Institute for Indo-Pacific Security

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

North Korea’s Military Modernization and the Future of the U.S.-ROK Alliance

North Korea is finalizing a five-year military modernization plan and will hold its Ninth Party Congress in the coming days—the results of which could reshape security dynamics on the Korean Peninsula. New long-range missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland, a nuclear doctrine that explicitly permits preemptive use of nuclear weapons, and expanded conventional capabilities are reshaping deterrence and security in the Indo-Pacific.

North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine has added another dimension to the threat. North Korean troops have learned how to fight and deploy drones, small-unit tactics, and electronic warfare on a live battlefield. With North Korea’s recent pledge of unconditional support for Russia, along with China’s ongoing economic and political backing, this axis of upheaval is poised to continue.

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America and assess what North Korea’s weapons modernization means for the U.S.-South Korea alliance that has underpinned peninsula security for over seven decades. How does a credible first-use doctrine reshape the deterrence calculus? What new capabilities are the United States and South Korea developing to tackle more advanced conventional threats from the North? What do the Trump administration’s newly released national security and defense strategies, which notably deprioritize North Korea in favor of China, mean for burden-sharing and force posture?

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Tariffs on Trial: The IEEPA Ruling and What Comes Next

The U.S. Supreme Court has delivered a significant check on White House trade authority — and America's trading partners, including South Korea, are now recalibrating. On Friday, February 20, the Court struck down the ability of the Trump administration to implement tariffs to regulate imports under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA).

While the decision strikes down the tariffs imposed under the April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement, the administration's underlying trade ambitions remain. Tariffs levied through IEEPA have been a cornerstone of the administration’s policies to reshore U.S. manufacturing, raise government revenue, and bilateral trade- and investment deal negotiations, including with Korea. What are some trade policy tools available to administration to achieve its objectives, following the Supreme Court ruling? How could this ruling impact investments made in the United States under the reciprocal tariff regime? What is the outlook for the trade deals negotiated between the United States and some of its major trading partners including Korea, Japan, and the EU? What emphasis might this now place on existing tariffs under Section 232 and other available provisions?

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) for a reactive discussion on what lies ahead for U.S. national economic policy after the Supreme Court ruling and how it affects U.S. trading and investment relationships with some of Washington’s largest economic partners.

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Nuclear Energy Leadership for AI-Driven Growth and Energy Security

The Global America Business Institute (GABI), the Korea Economic Institute (KEI), and the International Nuclear Nonproliferation and Cooperation Center (INC) hosted a joint workshop discussing the future of nuclear energy in the context of AI and energy security.

Session I: Global Perspectives on AI Demand and Energy Needs

The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence is reshaping global energy demand, infrastructure planning, and national competitiveness. As AI applications scale across data centers, cloud computing, advanced manufacturing, and defense-related systems, countries face a shared challenge: delivering large volumes of reliable, affordable, and secure electricity while maintaining grid stability and meeting broader economic and strategic objectives.

This session examines AI-driven energy demand through an international lens, highlighting how governments and industry are forecasting AI-related load growth, adapting generation portfolios, and accelerating investment in firm, dispatchable energy resources.

Session II: AI, Energy Security, and Supply Chain Resilience

AI development depends not only on abundant electricity, but also on secure access to energy technologies, critical materials, manufacturing capacity, and cross-border infrastructure. This session explores how international energy cooperation is evolving in response to the security and supply-chain challenges created by rapidly rising AI-driven demand.

Discussion will examine allied and partner supply chains for energy generation, grid infrastructure, nuclear fuel, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing; vulnerabilities exposed by geopolitical competition and regulatory fragmentation; and how bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks can reduce risk and accelerate deployment of AI-enabling energy infrastructure.

U.S.-ROK Cooperation in the Semiconductor and EV Battery Supply Chain

On December 5, 2025, Arizona State University, in partnership with the Korea Economic Institute of America and the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hosted a public program titled “U.S.–ROK Cooperation in the Semiconductor and EV Battery Supply Chain.”

As the United States and South Korea deepen cooperation in advanced technologies, semiconductor manufacturing, and electric-vehicle battery production, Arizona has emerged as a critical hub in the evolving industrial partnership. This program explored how both countries are working to strengthen secure, resilient supply chains that support economic security, technological innovation, and long-term strategic competitiveness.

The discussion brought together experts to assess the opportunities and challenges facing the semiconductor and EV battery sectors—including export controls, global competition, research collaboration, and the future of U.S.–Korea technological cooperation. The event highlighted how Korean investment and bilateral coordination are shaping the next generation of advanced manufacturing and innovation in the American Southwest.

Panel:

Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korean National Diplomatic Academy

Rodrigo Balbontín, Associate Director of Trade, IP, and Digital Technology Governance, Information Technology & Innovation Foundation

ASU Faculty Speaker: Sungik Yang, School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies, Arizona State University

Moderated by: Güneş Murat Tezcür, Director, School of Politics and Global Studies, Arizona State University

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Fireside Chat with Ambassador Kang & U.S.-ROK Shipbuilding Cooperation: Opportunities and Challenges

Sheena Chestnut Greitens sits down with Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha, the Republic of Korea’s ambassador to the United States. Recorded before a live audience at The University of Texas at Austin on December 3, the conversation explores the deepening alignment between Seoul and Washington.

Ambassador Kang and Dr. Greitens discuss the implementation of the recent $350 billion Korean government-led investment in the United States, focusing on seven key sectors including shipbuilding, semiconductors, and nuclear energy. The discussion addresses the challenges of workforce training and visa policy following recent immigration enforcement actions in Georgia.

The conversation also covers the shifting geopolitical landscape, specifically the implications of deepened military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Finally, the ambassador outlines priorities for modernizing the alliance, including the transfer of wartime operational control and cooperation on nuclear fuel cycles and nuclear-powered submarines.

Academic Session:

Following the fireside chat with Ambassador Kang, the program continued with an academic panel examining U.S.–ROK cooperation across security, technology, and economic policy.

Moderator:

Robert Oppenheim, Professor, LBJ School of Public Affairs, The University of Texas at Austin

Panelists:

Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy

Michael Roberts, Senior Fellow, Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, Hudson Institute

Jaedo Choi, Assistant Professor of Economics, The University of Texas at Austin

This event was supported by the Asia Policy Program at The University of Texas at Austin, the Clements Center for National Security, the Strauss Center for International Security and Law, the LBJ School of Public Affairs, and the Korea Economic Institute of America.

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The Nexus of Economic Security and Technology

On December 1st, 2025 the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, in partnership with Korea Economic Institute of America and the Republic of Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were thrilled to welcome Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha and a panel of experts to discuss the importance of the growing partnership between the Republic of Korea and the State of Georgia.

Why Georgia Matters for South Korea: Georgia is home to some of the largest Korean investments in the United States, including Hyundai Motor Group’s $7.6 billion Metaplant–the biggest economic development project in state history–and significant supply-chain growth across the state.

South Korea is now one of Georgia’s top foreign partners in manufacturing, job creation, and workforce development. Korean companies are strengthening the state’s capabilities in advanced production, technology, clean energy, and training programs that support U.S. competitiveness and economic security.

This public program brought together senior policymakers, industry experts, and academic leaders to examine the intersection of economic security, innovation, technology competition, and the United States’ evolving partnership with South Korea. Ambassador Kyung-wha Kang delivered opening remarks, followed by an academic session featuring experts on semiconductors, artificial intelligence, supply-chain resilience, and the future of U.S.-Korea technological cooperation. The conversation came at a pivotal moment as both countries invest heavily in advanced technologies and seek to strengthen secure, resilient supply chains.

Participants:

Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha

Panel:

Lee Sung-hwan, Director-General for Diplomatic Strategy and Planning, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Lee Hyo-young, Associate Professor, Korean National Diplomatic Academy

Ryan Fedasiuk, Fellow, American Enterprise Institute

Minjai Cho, Vice President of Absolics Business Innovation Division, SKC

Jae Kim, President, Southeast U.S. Korean Chamber of Commerce

Moderated by: Jenny Jun, Assistant Professor, Sam Nunn School of International Affairs

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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Overcoming Barriers to U.S.-South Korea Shipbuilding Cooperation

America is racing to meet growing commercial and defense demands for ships, and South Korea—one of the world’s leading shipbuilders—is emerging as a vital partner. Hanwha’s landmark 2024 acquisition of Philly Shipyard signaled a new era of trans-Pacific collaboration, with both governments now rallying behind the “Make American Shipbuilding Great Again (MASGA)” initiative.

But big ambitions face real-world challenges. From skilled-labor shortages to rising material costs and uncertain long-term demand, what will it take for the U.S. and Korea to turn MASGA’s promise into a sustainable partnership?

Join KEI for an engaging discussion on the opportunities and obstacles ahead for U.S.–Korea maritime cooperation—and what success could mean for both economies.

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Trump, Lee, and the New Trade Reality | Scott Snyder Q&A

In this live Q&A at the 1st Channel A CHAIRS Forum on October 21, 2025, KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder answers questions from Yonsei University's Youngshik Bong about U.S.–South Korea relations under Presidents Donald Trump and Lee Jae Myung. The conversation ranges from the APEC Summit’s role in upcoming tariff talks and the impact of Trump’s negotiation style to questions about whether new trade deals mark the start of a long-term economic reordering. President Snyder discusses the Supreme Court case on IEEPA authority, the meaning of “engagement without confrontation,” and the personal and diplomatic dynamics between Trump and Lee. He also assesses Lee Jae Myung’s first months in office, prospects for modernizing the alliance, and the intersection of trade, security, and U.S. domestic politics—including how the midterm elections could shape Washington’s Indo-Pacific policies.

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

The “Trump Round”: Reordering Global Trade and the U.S.–Korea Economic Relationship

In his Oct. 21, 2025 presentation at the 1st Channel A CHAIRS Forum, KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder reviews the development and impact of the Donald Trump administration’s economic policies on the U.S.-South Korea trade relationship. He argues that Washington's tariff negotiations with major trading partners represent a reordering of the international trade order around tariffs rather than longstanding principles of free trade. The presentation highlights the origins, application, evolution, and impact of the Trump administration’s application of tariffs on both South Korea and other trading partners and the implications of the newly developing “Trump Round” for the U.S.-South Korea economic relationship and global order. President Snyder concludes with recommendations on how to manage the U.S.-Korea relationship under the Trump and Lee Jae Myung administrations and how businesses should respond to and take advantage of current economic dynamics.

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

The Lee Jae Myung Administration’s Regional Diplomacy with China and Japan

South Korea’s Lee Jae Myung administration has embraced what it calls “national interest–driven pragmatic diplomacy.” While this approach embraces a strong U.S.–Korea alliance, it also raises key questions about Seoul’s evolving relationships with its regional neighbors, China and Japan.

Will the Lee government return to “strategic ambiguity” as a way to mend ties with the Xi Jinping government? What is the administration’s China policy, and how is it viewed from Beijing?

Meanwhile, South Korea–Japan relations have continued to improve, but the election of Sanae Takaichi raises some doubts about whether this momentum will be sustained.

Ms. Shihoko Goto, Vice President of Programs and Director of the Asia Program, Foreign Policy Research Institute, and Dr. Sungmin Cho, Associate Professor, Department of Political Science, Sungkyunkwan University, will tackle these and other questions on an exclusive panel moderated by Dr. Ellen Kim, KEI’s Director of Academic Affairs.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

What to Expect from APEC 2025: Fostering Sustainable Prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region

APEC 2025 will facilitate high-level dialogue between member nations, including major trading partners such as the United States, China, Korea, and Japan. This marks one of the first opportunities for multilateralism between leaders following new administrations entering APEC capitals across both Asia and North America. 

What impact will this have on bilateral and regional trade and policy? How can APEC strengthen Asia-Pacific cooperation amidst the rapid development of emerging technologies? How has Korea helped progress toward these goals? 

Join the Korea Economic Institute of America for an informed discussion co-hosted with the National Center for APEC on what to expect out of this year’s APEC forum and how it will shape relations across the Indo-Pacific.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Securing East Asia’s Energy Future: Advancing U.S.-Korea-Japan Cooperation in Natural Gas

The United States, South Korea, and Japan are enhancing their trilateral cooperation to secure natural gas supply chains in East Asia. Recent strategic agreements and natural gas developments highlight the partners’ focus on developing cooperation frameworks to mitigate both market and geopolitical challenges.

Dr. Seong-ik Oh, Director General for the Office of Central Land Tribunal at Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, joins KEI’s program to share his research into these cooperation frameworks, discuss potential pitfalls, and analyze the future potential of trilateral energy cooperation. His research will appear in the Fall/Winter 2025 issue of Korea Policy, KEI’s flagship journal, this December.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The U.S.-South Korea Allied Approach toward North Korea-Russia Cooperation

Following the signing of a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” between North Korea and Russia on June 19, 2024, ties between the two countries have only warmed as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year. This year, North Korea-Russia relations have notably expanded beyond the security domain, whilst at the same time, deepening within the realm of security.  This heightened relationship, which both sides now refer to as an “alliance,” poses an ever-increasing threat to Washington, its alliance with Seoul, and the broader international community.

Such rapprochement between North Korea and Russia comes at a time when the U.S.-South Korea alliance faces important challenges, not least the commitments and expectations of both countries with respect to their alliance. The need to strengthen U.S.-South Korea ties—however difficult—has never been greater, both in combating mutual threats and furthering cooperation in new areas.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

American Attitudes toward the Korean Peninsula 2025

The first year of the Trump administration in the United States and the first several months of the Lee administration in South Korea have brought significant changes to both domestic politics and foreign policy. As Americans adjust to this political transition, domestic and international issues remain at the forefront of public attention. 

With US foreign policy more significant than ever due to ongoing geopolitical challenges in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, KEI, in partnership with YouGov, examined where American attitudes stand with regard to US-Korea relations. What are American opinions on the alliance’s role on the Korean Peninsula and beyond? How do Americans view US-Korea relations today? How do Americans differ in these outlooks?

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The U.S.-Korea Alliance and Economic Cooperation under Presidents Trump and Lee

U.S.–South Korea relations have regained momentum after the election of President Lee Jae Myung in June, with the two sides signing a record trade deal in July and President Lee visiting Washington for a White House summit in August.

Yet both governments continue to confront pressing issues, including tariff negotiations, alliance modernization, and regional and global challenges involving North Korea and China. Managing divergent priorities and policy preferences will shape perceptions of alliance credibility and commitment.

At the same time, emerging areas of economic collaboration are beginning to take shape, creating opportunities to offset these frictions and expand trade even further.

Speakers:

Bruce Klingner, Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation
Troy Stangarone, Non-Resident Fellow at the Carnegie Mellon Institute
KEI Director of Academic Affairs Ellen Kim 

 

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Promoting Economic Cooperation at APEC Against the Backdrop of Geopolitical Uncertainty

Audio issues resolve at 8:00

 

The Donald Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs has shaken the global trading order. At the same time, geopolitical rivalries among major powers are intensifying as Trump attempts to end the military conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, and the U.S.-China geoeconomic competition appears to be deepening as both sides test their respective economic leverage on each other while enhancing their respective supply chain resiliency.

Thus, South Korea assumes responsibility for hosting the APEC business and leaders’ meetings at a complex moment. The role of multilateral institutions in promoting international trade is under assault from rising tariffs, making the task of easing barriers to economic cooperation more difficult. The APEC summit in South Korea will be the first major multilateral economic meeting to occur following the Trump administration’s imposition of universal tariffs. Furthermore, the APEC summit is a potential venue for the first meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at a moment when a stable framework for managing U.S.-China economic relations has not yet been established.

Following the conclusion of the first summit between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, KEI will host a distinguished panel of Korean speakers, who will share their perspectives on the geoeconomic and geopolitical forces shaping South Korea’s approach to hosting the APEC leaders’ summit.

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Trilateralism Through Transition: Prospects for Strengthening U.S.-South Korea-Japan Partnership

On August 18, 2023, U.S. President Joe Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida convened at Camp David for the first standalone trilateral summit between the three countries. The three leaders reaffirmed and deepened consultative mechanisms, security and defense cooperation, and regional cooperative initiatives. All three countries have since undergone leadership transitions. The future of the trilateral relationship now lies with new leadership in each of the three countries.

 

Please join the Korea Economic Institute of America and the Mansfield Foundation for a timely event held on the second anniversary of the Camp David Summit.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

South Korea’s New President and Prospects for U.S.-Korea Relations: A View from Former Ambassadors

On June 3, South Koreans elected Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung as the country’s next president. He was inaugurated amid deep domestic political polarization and uncertainty in external trade and security dynamics. How the new leader navigates such internal and external conditions has important implications for the U.S.-South Korea relationship and regional dynamics of the Indo-Pacific.

 

Please join a distinguished panel of former U.S. ambassadors to South Korea to analyze the election outcome and implications for the alliance. Moderated by KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder, Ambassadors Philip Goldberg (2022–2025), Harry Harris (2018–2021), and Kathleen Stephens (2008–2011) discuss these topics and more.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

From Peaceful Unification to Two Koreas? Paradigm Shifts in Inter-Korean Relations

For decades, inter-Korean relations have oscillated between confrontation and cautious engagement, grounded in a shared yet contested aspiration of eventual peaceful unification. This aspiration, rooted in nationalist ideals and constitutional mandates on both sides of the 38th parallel, has shaped the political lexicon and security posture of both Seoul and Pyongyang throughout. Yet developments since the beginning of last year suggest that North Korea under Kim Jong Un is abandoning the peaceful reunification paradigm altogether. At the turn of 2024, Pyongyang publicly reframed the Republic of Korea not as a compatriot regime but as a separate, hostile state. Speaking at a session of the country’s rubber-stamp parliament, Kim issued orders to reify that political decision in the country’s society, military, and economy. The pivot marks a potentially irreversible rupture in inter-Korean relations — one with consequences not only for the Korean Peninsula but also for regional geopolitics. This article explores three interrelated dimensions of that apparently transformative policy turn. First, it examines the nature, drivers, and implementation of North Korea’s paradigm shift on unification and reconciliation. Second, it analyzes the spectrum of South Korean political responses, from government policy to public sentiment. Finally, it reflects on the potential long-term implications of this shift for the future of the peninsula and the broader security environment in Northeast Asia.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

The Globalization of K-Culture

KEI Operations Manager Mai Pressley sits down with Areum Jeong, assistant professor of Korean Studies at Arizona State University, and Jeanie Chang, a licensed therapist and founder of “Noona’s Noonchi,” to discuss the global impact of Korean culture, what attracts international fans, and how domestic social issues are portrayed in popular culture and resonate abroad.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Beyond the Demographic Cliff: Economic Adaptation in Hyper-Aged Korea

KEI is pleased to host an exclusive event, “Beyond the Demographic Cliff: Economic Adaptation in Hyper-Aged Korea,” which examines how South Korea can redesign its economic structures to sustain prosperity and promote national security under conditions of demographic maturity.

 

KEI Non-Resident Fellow Darcie Draudt-Véjares will discuss this research into South Korea’s demographics and help attendees better understand how and why South Korea’s efforts to reverse its world-low fertility rates have failed.

 

By 2070, Korea’s population is projected to shrink by 27%, with older adults comprising nearly half the total. But the country can also adapt to this new reality, prioritizing age-smart industrial policy and retooling national strategies around longevity and capital efficiency. This includes increasing investment in financial literacy, pension equity, and regional specialization. Dr. Draudt-Véjares’s full report on these pathways forward will be featured in the spring/summer issue of KEI’s flagship journal, Korea Policy, due out in early June.

 

Dr. Ellen Kim, KEI’s Director of Academic Programs, will host this hybrid panel event on Monday, May 19, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. EDT at the KEI event space in Washington, D.C. and live on YouTube.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Unpacking South Korea’s 2025 Presidential Election

Voters will soon elect a new leader for South Korea, who will shape the country’s economy, domestic politics, and foreign policy for the next half-decade. This event will help attendees better understand the major fault lines in the presidential election, identify key issues for voters, and interpret what each leading candidate could mean for the U.S.-South Korea relationship.

 

KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder will moderate a discussion between three leading U.S. and South Korean journalists who will offer informed, on-the-ground perspectives on the presidential frontrunners. The conversation will explore the factors shaping the election, including economic challenges, national security concerns, and regional dynamics, along with generational and other divides among the electorate.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

South Korea’s Geoeconomic Strategy: Industrial Policy in Comparative Context

KEI is pleased to hold a program on South Korea’s Geoeconomic Strategy: Industrial Policy in Comparative Context. Like other countries, South Korea faces an increasingly uncertain and fractious global political economy marked by the exclusionary trade and investment policies, export controls, and a hardening of geopolitical fault lines. In this context, South Korea—and Korean firms—must consider a range of industrial policies as part of its broader geoeconomic strategy.

 

Please come join KEI’s program with KEI’s Non-resident Fellow Dr. Sunhyung Lee, which offers a discussion on the evolution of South Korea’s industrial policies in comparison to those of the United States, China, and Japan as well as patterns in the investment flows of South Korean firms. Dr. Lee’s research will be featured in the spring/summer issue of KEI’s flagship journal, Korea Policy, due to be published in digital format in early June.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

Recalibration in the Indo-Pacific: Perspectives from the Region

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

KEI is pleased to hold a program titled, Recalibration in the Indo-Pacific: Perspectives from the Region. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and ongoing U.S.-China strategic competition raises critical questions for U.S. allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific, including: Will narrowing strategic space between the United States and China force regional states into increasingly challenging foreign policy dilemmas? Alternatively, will regional states assert agency and seek greater autonomy? To what degree are we already in a multipolar international order and, if so, what affect will an intensifying U.S.-China competition have on that order?

Please come join KEI’s program with regional experts, which offers a two-part panel discussion featuring South Korea, Japan, Australia, Vietnam, and Singapore’s perspectives on these and other important questions facing the region. The panelists’ research will be featured in the spring/summer 2025 issue of KEI’s flagship journal, Korea Policy, due to be published in digital format in early June.

Siloed No More: The U.S.-ROK Alliance and a Taiwan Conflict

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

KEI is pleased to host an exclusive event titled Siloed No More: The U.S.-ROK Alliance and a Taiwan Conflict, which examines whether and how the U.S.-ROK alliance is situated to respond to a potential conflict over Taiwan.

KEI Fellow and Director of Academic Affairs Dr. Clint Work will discuss this project, which builds upon previous research on Seoul and Washington’s rhetorical alignment on the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Alexis Turek, Research Assistant at the Coalition for Defense of Taiwan (CDOT), a joint initiative between the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), will join Dr. Work on stage and offer insights into how his findings fit into broader strategic thinking about Taiwan from a U.S. perspective.

Through dozens of interviews with U.S. and ROK current and former government officials, think tank experts, and academics—as well as open-source research—Dr. Work will distill insights on the evolution and state of U.S.-ROK alliance discussions on a Taiwan conflict; key challenges obstructing such discussions; and critical variables and dynamics the alliance would have to consider and navigate in the event of a contingency.

KEI will publish an executive summary of Dr. Work’s research as well as the full special report concurrent with the event.

All Hands on Deck: Korea’s Strategic Role in Revitalizing U.S. Shipbuilding

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

In 2024, Korean shipbuilders Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries both entered into Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) agreements to support U.S. naval vessels in Korean yards. That same year, Hanwha acquired Philly Shipyard in Philadelphia, while HD Hyundai partnered with Anduril and Palantir to advance artificial intelligence innovations in unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) and autonomous naval systems, building on previous partnerships with Palantir to develop smart shipyard solutions. As the United States experiences a dearth of both naval and commercial shipbuilding capacity, U.S.-China competition at sea has led Washington to consider additional ways of revitalizing America’s once dominant position in the maritime domain. Legislative efforts such as the Ensuring Naval Readiness Act include potential to leverage allied support in strengthening the U.S. shipbuilding process, as does greater cooperation between the U.S. and Korean governments through the White House’s newly announced Shipbuilding Office. With Korean shipbuilders leading in advanced maritime technology and industrial capacity, their role in servicing and constructing U.S. naval and commercial maritime assets—both domestically and overseas—is poised to grow.

Please join KEI for a discussion with experts in the field to assess the status and prospects for the US-South Korea strategic cooperation in shipbuilding. Colin Grabow, Associate Director at the Cato Institute’s Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies, and Michael Viggiano, Director of Government Affairs for Defense at Hanwha USA, will discuss these topics and more.

Managing US-South Korea Relations under the Shadow of Impeachment

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol currently faces both an impeachment trial and a criminal trial for his declaration of martial law on December 3, 2024, and related charges of seeking to undermine South Korea’s democratic processes. If the Constitutional Court rules to uphold Yoon’s impeachment, he would be the second president in the country’s history to be impeached and formally removed from office following Park Geun-hye’s removal from office in 2017, an event which coincided with the beginning of the first Trump administration. What is the impact on alliance management that results from a prolonged vacuum in South Korean leadership and the resulting political transition? How do alliance managers cope with such circumstances and what is the overall impact on alliance consultations and cooperation mechanisms under such circumstances?

 

Please join KEI for a discussion with U.S.-South Korea alliance managers to assess the status and prospects for the U.S.-South Korea relationship under the shadow of Yoon’s impeachment proceedings. Ahn Ho-young, former South Korean ambassador to the United States (2013 to 2017), Vincent Brooks, former commander of United States Forces Korea, United Nations Command, and ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (2016 to 2018), and Sheena Chestnut Greitens, associate professor at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Austin, will discuss these topics and more.

 

[This material is distributed by KEI on behalf of the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

What Are Current American Attitudes Toward the Korean Peninsula?

Scott Snyder and James Kim of KEI sat down with Dina Smeltz from The Chicago Council on Global Affairs to discuss the results of KEI's 5th Annual Survey Report, and the current perceptions Americans have towards the Korean Peninsula.

 

This is a follow-up conversation to the live event KEI hosted about the survey results. You can find that event here: https://youtube.com/live/IQdVPZOKGpo?feature=share .

NATO and the Indo-Pacific Partners

[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC.]

NATO’s 75th Anniversary Summit was held in Washington, DC, on July 9–11, and its Indo-Pacific Partners (IP4)—Korea, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand—attended as they did NATO’s 2022 Madrid and 2023 Vilnius summits. NATO has made clear that although it remains dedicated to the defense of its Transatlantic area, the challenges with which it is dealing are global and immediate. The attendance of the IP4 is a demonstration that NATO and its Indo-Pacific partners perceive common interests in coping with an increasingly dangerous world. On July 18, 2024 KEI hosted a discussion of the Washington NATO Summit and the future of cooperation with the IP4 with NATO’s Director for Partnerships and Global Affairs, Kristian Meszaros, and leading experts on Japan, Korea, and Australia and New Zealand: Mirna Galic from USIP, Dr. Hyun Ji Rim from SAIS, and Kathryn Paik from CSIS. The discussion was moderated by Dr. Clint Work, Fellow and Director of Academic Affairs from KEI.

What are Domestic Politics Doing to the U.S.-Korea Alliance?

In April 2023, the United States and South Korea marked the 70th anniversary of an alliance that has served the strategic interests of both countries. Their relationship has expanded beyond security issues to include trade, technology, and other important policy areas. However, the alliance now faces challenges from changing notions of national interests and political polarization in both countries.

On January 16, 2024, KEI hosted a discussion with Scott Snyder, author of The U.S.-Korea Alliance: Why It May Fail and Why It Must Not, on what domestic political developments in both countries mean for the future of the U.S.-Korea alliance.

Charting China’s Use of Armed Coercion: James Siebens (Part 2)

Building on last year’s "Rethinking Korea initiative," in 2024 KEI will continue to explore the evolution of US-Korea relations, Korea's place in the world, rapid changes in Korean society, and a fast changing geopolitical and strategic landscape. The initiative involves both retrospective inquiry as well as prospective analysis about future trends. Our guest today is intently focused on the role of armed coercion as a tool of foreign policy employed by both the United States and China and how other states perceive and respond to it.

James A. Siebens is a Fellow with Stimson Center’s Reimagining US Grand Strategy program, where he leads the Defense Strategy and Planning project. His research focuses on grand strategy, military coercion, and gray zone conflict. Building on a co-edited volume titled, Military Coercion and U.S. Foreign Policy: The Use of Force Short of War (Routledge 2020), a book on U.S. strategy and military operations since the end of the Cold War, James is also the editor of China’s Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting (Routledge 2023), a recently published study on China’s use of military and paramilitary forces for purposes of coercion.

The second part of our conversation focuses on the application of his analysis to the Korean Peninsula – both historically and in a more contemporary context – and James’ thoughts on what the United States has gotten right and wrong on China and some related policy recommendations.

 

The book, "China's Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting," can be found here.

A shorter piece by James A. Siebens examining the effectiveness of China's use of armed coercion may be found here.

Charting China’s Use of Armed Coercion: James Siebens (Part 1)

Building on last year’s "Rethinking Korea initiative," in 2024 KEI will continue to explore the evolution of US-Korea relations, Korea's place in the world, rapid changes in Korean society, and a fast changing geopolitical and strategic landscape. The initiative involves both retrospective inquiry as well as prospective analysis about future trends. Our guest today is intently focused on the role of armed coercion as a tool of foreign policy employed by both the United States and China and how other states perceive and respond to it.

James A. Siebens is a Fellow with Stimson Center’s Reimagining US Grand Strategy program, where he leads the Defense Strategy and Planning project. His research focuses on grand strategy, military coercion, and gray zone conflict. Building on a co-edited volume titled, Military Coercion and U.S. Foreign Policy: The Use of Force Short of War (Routledge 2020), a book on U.S. strategy and military operations since the end of the Cold War, James is also the editor of China’s Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting (Routledge 2023), a recently published study on China’s use of military and paramilitary forces for purposes of coercion.

Our conversation is split into two parts, the first of which focuses on: the motivation behind his latest book project and what sets it apart from other work on China; key terms and concepts used throughout the book, such as coercion, deterrence and compellence; and the overall content and structure of the book as well as some of the representative examples of China’s use of armed coercion and whether they were effective.

 

The book, "China's Use of Armed Coercion: To Win Without Fighting," can be found here.

A shorter piece by James A. Siebens examining the effectiveness of China's use of armed coercion may be found here.

Where are North Korea's Relations with Russia Headed?

For the first time since the end of the Cold War, North Korea has embraced relations with Russia as a key component of its foreign policy and domestic development. However, Russia’s need for North Korean artillery and weapons to conduct its war in Ukraine also create a different dynamic between the two countries than during the Cold War. This new dynamic and the unknown outcome of the war in Ukraine raise questions about the long-term viability of deepening ties between North Korea and Russia, as well as Pyongyang’s choice to deepen relations with Moscow and to a lesser extent Beijing, rather than seeking to improve relations with Washington and Seoul.

On February 8, 2024, KEI hosted a discussion on these and other issues related to the growing relationship between North Korea and Russia with long-time North Korea expert Dr. Andrei Lankov of Kookmin University.

The U.S.-ROK-DPRK Strategic Triangle in the Indo-Pacific Era

On August 17, 2023, KEI held a program on the U.S.-South Korea-North Korea Strategic Triangle in the Indo-Pacific Era. The program featured Scott Snyder’s work to help better understand: the evolution in perceptions of the three main actors in the U.S.-South Korea-North Korea triangle, including their respective approaches to one another and interactions with China; the main impacts of U.S.-China rivalry on their respective postures and priorities; and the future trajectory of both U.S.-South Korea-North Korea triangular relations and great power relations in the region.

How Can Korea and Australia Cooperate in the Indo-Pacific?

On August 30, 2023, KEI hosted a discussion with Prof. Rory Medcalf on South Korea’s Indo-Pacific Strategy and Middle Power Convergence with Australia. Over the past decade, the concept of the “Indo-Pacific” has replaced the late 20th century “Asia-Pacific” as a central frame of reference for strategy and external policy. Although the Indo-Pacific is often associated particularly with Japan and its influential prime minister the late Abe Shinzo, in fact, Australia was the first country to formally recognize the Indo-Pacific as its regional security environment. As a fellow middle power and independent-minded U.S. ally, with its own geopolitical complexities to navigate, Australia provides an illuminating example for South Korea as it operationalizes its Indo-Pacific strategy.

Energy Insecurity: How Resource-Poor Korea and Japan Powered Their Economies

Despite being industrial powerhouses, Korea and Japan are both resource-poor nations with limited domestic sources of energy. Powering their economies required both to develop supply chains for fossil fuels, nuclear power, and renewable energy to power their economies. However, different domestic political constraints resulted in differing approaches to achieving energy security.

On September 21, 2023, KEI hosted a discussion on Korea and Japan’s efforts to achieve energy security with Dr. Seong-ik Oh who discussed his new book, Overseas Energy Investment of Korea and Japan: How did Two East Asian Resources-Rare Industrial Giants Respond to Energy Security Challenges.

The Costs of War: Deepening North Korea-Russia Ties

Relations between Russia and North Korea are growing closer. Pyongyang has been publically supportive of Russia’s war in Ukraine and is reported to have supplied Moscow with millions of artillery shells. Kim Jong-un met with Vladimir Putin at Vostochny Cosmodrome and discussed deepening their military relationship and providing Russia with additional military supplies. These deepening ties also raise a series of questions related to geostrategic competition in Northeast Asia, the war in Ukraine, the future of UN sanctions, and the prospects for North Korean denuclearization.

 

On October 5, 2023, KEI hosted a discussion of these and other pressing questions about North Korea’s deepening ties with Russia.

Economic Security and U.S.-China Competition: The View From North Korea

KEI is pleased to hold a program on Economic Security and U.S.-China Competition: The View From North Korea. One country is conspicuously missing from existing discussions about the dilemmas and opportunities that U.S.-China strategic competition poses to various stakeholders in matters related to global economic security: North Korea. North Korea is an interesting piece of the puzzle because it is certainly not a key player in the regional or global economy. Quite unlike its neighboring states, North Korea’s place in global supply chains is minimal at best. Yet, North Korea remains important because it is a major player in the Northeast Asian security landscape. Any key political and economic decisions this nuclear-armed state makes in this volatile region have profound implications for the security and economy of the world. And Pyongyang’s views of U.S.-China competition and its economic and political fallout will be a central component of its near- to long-term policy calculus. North Korea’s view of the Russia factor in U.S.-China competition and the shifting global order is also of relevance.

Listen to KEI’s October 11, 2023 program with Rachel Minyoung Lee, which offers a discussion of how North Korea perceives “economic security” and U.S.-China strategic competition; how its views of U.S.-China relations and the changing global order have reshaped Pyongyang’s foreign and economic policy; and the opportunities and challenges that the geopolitics and geoeconomics of U.S.-China competition pose to Pyongyang.