The Russian invasion of Ukraine that began on February 24th 2022 violently shook all of us complacently curled up in the wonted world order. Before gazing into the crystal ball, it is necessary to first examine the various hypotheses on the war’s causes. Then, it is possible to consider the war’s implications not just for Russia and Eastern Europe, but the world at large.

There are also lessons for Korea. Seoul must 1) respond adeptly and quickly to the war’s developments as a fellow nation located along geo-political fault lines, 2) not welcome a solution that results in the partition of Ukraine, 3) considering the breakdown of global value chains, shore up supply chains in and market access to trusted countries that share values, 4) further strengthen the US-ROK Alliance, and 5) retailor the denuclearization negotiation strategy vis-a-vis a North Korea that will have renewed its convictions on the necessity of nuclear armament in the wake of this war.