September 01,2013 National Commentaries

South Korean Perspective

Deterrence, NPT and the Two Koreas A South Korean View on Further Cuts in Nuclear Weapons In April 2009, during his visit to Prague, President Obama announced his plan for “a world without nuclear weapons.” Through a series of negotiations, the United States and Russia reached an agreement to reduce nuclear weapons to 1,550 each—the New START Treaty. Four years later in Berlin, Obama..

Choi Kang*
Barack Obama , Berlin speech , Extended deterrence , Non-proliferation treaty , Nuclear weapons
August 27,2013 Topics of the Month

The ROK-US Alliance – 2

ROK-US Alliance Rescheduling the War-time OPCON Transition From a Time-driven Approach to a Situation-driven Approach ROK and US defense authorities recently held the 4th ROK-US Integrated Defense Dialogue (KIDD) and discussed increased North Korean nuclear threats and related security issues, including postponement of wartime operational control (WOPCON) transition, which is scheduled for Dece..

Koo Bon-hak*
combined forces command , deterrence , ROK-US Alliance , WMD threat , WOPCON
July 19,2013 Open Forum

Black Swans: Order and Disorder in the Global System

The clarity of the Cold War with its neat division between the communist and capitalist worlds, and not so neat addition of the non-aligned or third world is over. There will be no grand strategy that guides the behavior of the United States or any other great power. Different strategies will be followed across different issue areas. There may be a global disruption, but if it occurs it will not b..

Stephen D. Krasner
Disorder , Global
July 19,2013 National Commentaries

South Korean Perspective

"New Model of Great Power Relations" The New Sino-US Relations: A South Korean Perspective The top leaders of the United States and China getting together to jointly articulate a vision of a “new model of great power relations” is a welcome sight for South Koreans. As a country that relies on the United States for its security while relying heavily on China for its trade, a conflic..

M.J. Chung
Denuclearization , New Model of Great Power Relations , Obama-Xi Summit , Park-Xi Summit , Sino-US Relations
July 19,2013 Topics of the Month

The ROK-US Alliance – 1

The ROK-US Alliance at 60 and Beyond The year 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the ROK-US security alliance, which was officially established with the signing of the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty in October 1953. The number 60 carries significant meaning in Korea since it refers to the completion of one cycle of the zodiac and the beginning of a new one. For the past six decades, the ROK-U..

Choi Kang*
China , North Korea , Northeast Asia , OPCON , ROK-US Alliance , Security Architecture , SMA
July 19,2013 Country Reports

Country Report: South Korea (July 2013)

Country Report: South Korea (prepared by Han Minjeong) The single event of most far-reaching significance for the Korean media was the visit of President Park Geun-hye to Beijing. Coverage focused on whether China’s policy toward North Korea is changing. Indications that it was changing had already fueled cautious optimism that the time is ripe for South Korea to make a move. As Park stated, ..

Editorial Staff (prepared by Han Minjeong)
Denuclearization , New Model of Great Power Politics , Obama-Xi Summit , Park-Xi Summit , Sino-US Relations