Views on the Upcoming Moon-Biden Summit from KEI Advisory Council

By KEI Advisory Council President Joe Biden and President Moon Jae-in are scheduled to meet in Washington D.C. on May 21. For President Biden, this...

Advancing South Korea-Southeast Asia Security Ties: Between Opportunities and Challenges

Adapting the U.S.-South Korea Alliance to an Indo-Pacific Regional Architecture: Challenges and Prospects

The Biden-Moon Summit and North Korea Human Rights Issues

At the end of last week, the United States announced that President Joe Biden will host South Korean President Moon Jae-in for in-person meetings in...

Can South Korea Continue to Balance Relations with the United States and China?

Korea has long worked to maintain at least cordial relationships that balance its larger neighbors. The global U.S.-China competition is the newest iteration of the...

Security Cooperation with Seoul and Tokyo: Changing the Conversation

At a time when the Biden Administration is seeking to restore faith in the alliances and show resolve, the potential for security cooperation between Japan...

North Korea Sanctions and the Fungibility Problem

‘It is prohibited to attack, destroy, remove, or render useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population, such as foodstuffs, agricultural areas for...

A More Proactive South Korean Foreign Policy?

South Korea suggested that it may join the U.S.-led Quad+ initiative, suggesting it is prepared to become a more proactive player in the region.

A Day Late, But Not a Dollar Short: The New U.S.- Korea Burden-Sharing Agreement

After more than a year since the previous one expired, the U.S. and South Korea finally agreed to terms for a new military burden-sharing deal....

Russia’s DPRK Policy during the Biden Administration: Same Dream, Different Beds

Despite President Joe Biden’s previous description of Russia as an “opponent” and the regime of President Vladimir Putin as “KGB thugs”, it remains possible for...

Secretaries Blinken and Austin Make First Overseas Visit to South Korea and Japan

The first trip abroad by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense in a new administration are closely watched for clues to the...

New China-Korea Military Hotlines

Repeated Chinese intrusions into South Korea’s air defense identification zone led to the establishment of two new military hotlines between the two countries.

Antony Blinken on a Foreign Policy for the American People: Implications for the Two Koreas

It is the job of every foreign ministry to advance the interests of its country. But how, precisely? Biden’s first foreign policy speech stressed basic...

OPCON Transfer Follows Pragmatic Path

Despite President Moon’s pledge to accelerate the transfer of wartime command of U.S.-Korea forces, both governments reaffirm that this will be conditions-based.

North Korea’s COVID-19 Vaccine Cold Chain Challenge

For North Korea to return to some semblance of its pre-COVID existence it will need to vaccinate its population, but acquiring the necessary vaccines will...