April 27,2021 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (May 2021)

In the wake of the inauguration of the Biden administration, a flurry of diplomatic activities in the Indo-Pacific ensued in March and April, which brought into sharp focus South Korea’s growing dilemma as a middle power wedged between its closest security ally, the US, and largest trading partner, China. With liberal internationalist Joe Biden and […]

Munkyoung Shin , Munkyoung Shin
anti-leaflet law , quad , special measures agreement , us-china rivalry , us-rok alliance
March 15,2021 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (March 2021)

Relations with the United States took center stage as South Koreans eyed the formation of the Biden administration, while phone conversations with President Xi Jinping and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and the arrival of a new South Korean ambassador in Tokyo widened the scope of foreign policy concern. The focus of ROK-US relations shifted from […]

Sanghwa Hong
covid-19 , gsomia , quad , special measures agreement , thaad , wartime operational control
November 04,2020 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (November 2020)

The fall of 2020 left South Korea in limbo. Who would win the US presidential elections? Would there be an October or post-election surprise from North Korea? How would US ties to China change after the election? Would the replacement of Abe by Suga result in new hope for the troubled ROK-Japan relationship? At the […]

Sanghwa Hong
donald trump , joe biden , new cold war , opcon transfer , suga yoshihide , us presidential election , us-china rivalry , us-rok alliance
September 02,2020 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (September 2020)

In the summer of 2020 foreign policy was largely on hold. The pandemic effect, the wait for US elections, and the relative caution shown by North Korea unwilling to alienate Donald Trump even if it could lash out at Moon Jae-in’s inaction, all left policy choices in limbo. Ties to Japan remained deeply troubled, although […]

Sanghwa Hong
opcon transfer , paik sun-yup , special measures agreement , us-china rivalry , yang jiechi
July 02,2020 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (July 2020)

Foremost on the minds of South Korean media writers was the intensifying competition between the United States and China and its impact on their country. Pressure has been mounting to join in exclusive economic arrangements, to make clear Seoul’s position on the PRC national security law for Hong Kong, to meet with the G7 to […]

Hong Sang Hwa , Kim Seonkyung
comfort women , covid-19 , fighters for free north korea , g7 , inter-korean cooperation and exchange act , kunsem , us-rok alliance , yoon mi-hyang
March 23,2020 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (March 2020)

In February 2020, the South Korean government tackled the coronavirus outbreak, also known as COVID-19. Following the diagnosis of “patient 31” in Daegu, the virus spread rapidly, and Korea raised its alert to the highest level. South Korean media focused on 1) ROK-China diplomatic relations; 2) South Korea’s supply chain disruptions and economic dependence on […]

Yumi Ko
coronavirus , covid-19 , korea-phobia , special measures agreement , thaad , three nos
January 23,2020 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (January 2020)

In December 2019, tensions increased on the Korean Peninsula as North Korea’s self-imposed year-end deadline approached. North Korea conducted two rocket engine tests at Tongchang-ri to pressure the US while Kim signaled through his horseback ride at Mount Paektu that he may unveil his “new path.” In response, the UN Security Council held an emergency […]

Yumi Ko
byungjin policy , gsomia , moon-xi summit , mount paektu , strait of hormuz , us-rok alliance
December 09,2019 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (November 2019)

Through the fall, Seoul’s relationship with Tokyo has been at its nadir, but relations with both Pyongyang and Washington have also been deeply troubled. While conservative and progressive articles and commentators have differed in their recommendations, neither found much basis for hope. Under pressure, concessions have been made and perceived as responses to desperation. Fear […]

Kim Kimberly
cvid , gsomia , mount geumgang , pyongyang declaration , special measures agreement , trump-kim summit , us-rok alliance
December 02,2019 Country Reports

Country Report: Russia (November 2019)

China was on Russian minds the most, relegating the Korean Peninsula to second among Asian interests. On the one hand, Putin’s announcement of Russia transferring its missile defense apparatus to China set the tone for optimistic pronouncements of an upgrading of strategic relations, even if the term “alliance” was not in the official lexicon. Some […]

Editorial Staff (with the assistance of Olga Puzanova)
"belt and road" initiative , eastern economic forum , force of siberia , free and open indo-pacific , inf treaty , nuclear non-proliferation , turn to the east