Avsnitt
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Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Philip Goldberg returns to Eye on Korea, making the case that South Korea has become a legitimate middle power with one of the fastest-growing defense-industrial bases, growing its reach from Africa to the Middle East while recalibrating the U.S.-South Korea alliance at the center of its security posture.
Ambassador Goldberg traces how pragmatism has come to define the Lee Jae Myung administration’s outreach to Japan and policies toward the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Along with KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder, Ambassador Goldberg discusses South Korea’s interpretation of the Iran war, its ambiguity regarding a Taiwan contingency, and its read on a Trump trade policy Goldberg calls “extortionist.”
The episode also digs into the harder questions, including whether a seventy-year-old U.S. nuclear guarantee still carries the same weight, what the recent Xi Jinping-Kim Jong Un meeting in Pyongyang signals for a future Trump-Kim summit, and why OPCON transfer keeps slipping, a delay Goldberg argues is driven more by the military than by politics.
Philip Goldberg served as U.S. Ambassador to South Korea from 2022 to 2025. Over a decades-long diplomatic career, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Colombia, the Philippines, and Bolivia; as Chief of Mission in Pristina, Kosovo; as Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research; and as the coordinator for implementing U.N. sanctions on North Korea. Earlier in his career, he was a member of the American negotiating team at the Dayton Peace Conference, serving as chief of staff for the U.S. delegation. Ambassador Goldberg has received numerous honors, including Presidential Distinguished and Meritorious Service Awards and the State Department's Distinguished Honor Award.
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[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.]
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Wartime operational control, or OPCON, should have been transferred from U.S. to South Korean forces. That is the case Ambassador Joseph Yun makes on Eye on Korea—South Korea must take primary responsibility for conventional warfare on the peninsula, and the alliance may be overdue for rebalancing. Ambassador Yun served as acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea from January to October 2025, capping a three-decade career in the Department of State that spanned major chapters of the U.S.-South Korea relationship. He joins Eye on Korea for a wide-ranging conversation on OPCON, alliance modernization, the Lee Jae Myung administration, and the future of South Korea as a middle power. We also cover:🔹 How the alliance is managing the back-to-back transitions from Joe Biden to Donald Trump in Washington and Yoon Suk Yeol to Lee Jae Myung in Seoul🔹 Why the rule of law and due process are a “key point” of the U.S.-South Korea relationship, embedded in shared democratic values🔹 Why form and process lead to substance—and how that principle runs through all aspects of alliance management🔹 The economic dimension of the U.S.-South Korea relationship and why the tariff shock landed less hard in Seoul than elsewhere🔹 The key differences between the Moon Jae-in and Lee Jae Myung administrations, and the interplay between progressivism and pragmatism🔹 The factions inside South Korean domestic politics and what they signal for foreign policy🔹 Why North Korea will not denuclearize, and whether a different approach, such as arms control, is now more fit for purpose🔹 Optimal balancing between regional players, such as China, for South Korea’s long-term position🔹 Whether the United States is still a benign hegemon or has become a more isolationist, transactional leader—and what each outcome means for the alliance and the Indo-Pacific🔹 Alliance modernization, including strategic flexibility, nuclear-powered submarines, and relations with Japan🔹 The future of Korea as a middle power in the twenty-first century Ambassador Joseph Yun served as acting U.S. Ambassador to South Korea from January to October 2025. During his three-decade-plus career at the Department of State, Joe served in Korea-focused roles on multiple occasions, including as U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy during the first Trump administration. He was also U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Compact Negotiations, U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the State Department Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, among many other roles.
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[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.]
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Saknas det avsnitt?
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President Donald Trump is heading to Beijing for a high-stakes summit with Xi Jinping—in the middle of an active war with Iran, a new National Defense Strategy putting the Indo-Pacific front and center, and with allies in Seoul and across NATO recalibrating around a less predictable Washington. What does Trump want, what can he get, and what does it mean for the U.S.-South Korea alliance?
Susan A. Thornton, former Acting Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and Senior Fellow at Yale Law School's Paul Tsai China Center, joins Eye on Korea to break down the summit and the diplomatic terrain around it.
We cover:🔹 What issues are on the table at the Trump-Xi summit, and why the timing is unusual🔹 Why reestablishing clearer, more consistent U.S.-China communication channels is critical to keep the relationship from going off the rails🔹 Whether competition with China shaped the U.S. timing and strategy in the strikes on Iran🔹 The unusual posture of a U.S. president visiting Beijing in the middle of an active war🔹 Why Trump is walking into this summit with a weaker hand than the rhetoric suggests🔹 Whether the United States will ask China to help broker diplomacy with Iran🔹 The new National Defense Strategy and what it signals for U.S. and allied deterrence posture in the Indo-Pacific🔹 Why reports of friction between Washington and NATO are overblown🔹 How allies such as South Korea are absorbing unpredictability out of the White House🔹 The economic connections to China that the United States and its allies still depend on🔹 Why multilateralism looks unlikely in the near term—and whether tech cooperation alone can drive structural change while tariffs and uncertainty persist🔹 Critical minerals and the supply chain fight🔹 Why allies and trading partners have to hit back when the Trump administration hits them—and why that posture has worked in the economic and trade domains
Susan A. Thornton is a retired senior U.S. diplomat with almost 30 years of experience at the U.S. State Department in Eurasia and East Asia. She currently serves as a senior fellow and research scholar at the Paul Tsai China Center at Yale University Law School, director of the Forum on Asia-Pacific Security at the National Committee on American Foreign Policy, and a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Until July 2018, Thornton was acting assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State, where she led East Asia policymaking amid crises with North Korea, escalating trade tensions with China, and a fast-changing international environment. In previous State Department roles, she worked on U.S. policy toward China, Korea, and the former Soviet Union, and served in leadership positions at U.S. embassies in Central Asia, Russia, the Caucasus, and China. She received her master's in international relations from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and her bachelor's in economics and Russian from Bowdoin College. She serves on several non-profit boards and speaks Mandarin and Russian.
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[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.]
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North Korea spent decades building the missile, conventional, and underground infrastructure now on display in Iran's arsenal, with dividends flowing in both directions, KEI’s latest guest on Eye on Korea argues.
Bruce Bechtol joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder to map what he sees as the North Korea-Iran axis and its implications for the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
This episode digs into Bechtol's account of North Korean support for Iran's missile program—including liquid-fuel systems, underground facilities, and conventional weapons—and what he believes the ongoing war reveals about North Korea’s arsenal. Bechtol explains why he believes the United States is neglecting the North Korea-Iran axis and why he views Pyongyang's relationship with Hezbollah as more sophisticated than its ties to Hamas.
The conversation widens to North Korea's broader footprint: Bechtol’s assessment of the fall of the Assad regime in Syria for North Korea’s operations in the Middle East, his estimate of how much North Korea is making off Russia's war in Ukraine in cash, oil, and technology, and what costs he believes Kim Jong Un would bear if there were regime change in Tehran. The episode closes with Bechtol's biggest takeaways from North Korea's most recent ICBM and weapons tests.
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[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.]
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South Korea wants nuclear-powered submarines, enrichment capabilities, and a bigger role in the global nuclear energy market. But the terms of its nuclear relationship with the United States are not built to support these goals. Toby Dalton, Senior Fellow and Co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, breaks down the nuclear policy questions at the center of the U.S.-Korea relationship with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder. They explore why Seoul sees a revised agreement as key to advancing its civilian nuclear program, and whether reviving the long-dormant bilateral commission between the two countries can help close the gap on nuclear capabilities. On enrichment, Dalton walks through the question of whether it must happen on Korean soil, what ownership models might be on the table, and why the enrichment market could look completely different in just a few years. The conversation turns to reprocessing, a lane where U.S.-Korea cooperation looks more promising and Washington is more receptive, before tackling private sector disputes that continue to prevent deeper partnership. Dalton also explains why separating nuclear-powered submarine construction from civilian nuclear objectives may pose unique challenges, why the Philadelphia shipyard is likely not a contender for where Korea's submarine gets built, and what nuclear latency means for the future of the alliance.
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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.]
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Trump has demanded allies like South Korea help secure the Strait of Hormuz, but what does the broader conflict with Iran mean for deterrence on the Korean Peninsula? And as assets like THAAD shift to the Middle East, how should Seoul and Washington rethink contingency planning?
Jeonghun Min, professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), describes the ripple effects of U.S. Middle East policy on the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Together with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder, topics include: — What happens to alliance readiness when U.S. assets like THAAD get pulled to the Middle East— Why growing nuclear and naval capabilities in South Korea can multiply U.S. force projection— Why nuclear submarine acquisition and uranium enrichment are fundamentally different issues— Balancing alliance modernization with non-proliferation commitments— The Taiwan contingency question and why it's a sensitive issue for Seoul— The gap between how Washington and Seoul perceive the China threat
Dr. Jeonghun Min is a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA). He is interested in conducting research on ROK-US relations, North Korea-US relations, US-China strategic competition, and American Politics. After joining the KNDA, he has published many policy papers on the diplomatic and security situations on the Korean Peninsula and East Asia. He has been working as a policy adviser for the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Unification of Republic of Korea. Dr. Min received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Georgia.
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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.]
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Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is heading to Washington with strong domestic support. What does she want, what can she get, and what does it mean for the U.S.-South Korea alliance?
Mireya Solís, Director of the Center for Asia Policy Studies and Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies at the Brookings Institution, joins Eye on Korea to break down the upcoming U.S.-Japan summit and its ripple effects across the Indo-Pacific.
We cover topics such as what Takaichi is hoping to accomplish in Washington, the state of U.S.-Japan trade after the Supreme Court ruling on IEEPA, Shinzo Abe's lasting legacy on Japanese foreign and economic policy, how Washington and Tokyo view the Iran war, China's grip on critical minerals and Japan's strategy to navigate it, and the future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation on security and economics.
Dr. Solís is the author of "Japan's Quiet Leadership: Reshaping the Indo-Pacific," named one of Foreign Affairs' Best Books of 2024.
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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.]
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Mary E. Lovely, Anthony M. Solomon Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, joins KEI for a deep dive into the U.S.-China trade and investment relationship at a moment of extraordinary geopolitical uncertainty. Lovely breaks down the state of play on tariffs and examines what the Donald Trump administration is aiming to achieve in its economic confrontation with Beijing. She explains how Chinese export controls on rare earth minerals may be squeezing U.S. allies such as South Korea, why American small businesses are bearing disproportionate costs from decoupling, and what the Joe Biden administration's "de-risking" and friendshoring strategies have tangibly delivered. The conversation highlights how the United States can leverage its advanced technology in future trade talks with China, the multifaceted nature of U.S.-China competition, and why globally coordinated action is needed to address Chinese overproduction. Lovely also makes the case for why South Korea should be front and center in any U.S. strategy to de-risk from China, assesses the sustainability of the $350 billion U.S.-Korea investment deal, and underscores why the U.S. government needs buy-in from allies and partners to achieve its economic security goals.
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Social Links:Website: https://keia.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [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.]
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Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins KEI for a wide-ranging conversation on the frontlines of U.S.-China economic competition. Hillman examines where China is pulling ahead—particularly in quantum communications and data centers — and what that means for the future of AI and technological leadership. He breaks down the opportunities and risks for allies like South Korea across critical technology areas, including AI, quantum computing, and advanced biotech manufacturing, explaining why Korea's semiconductor ecosystem is uniquely positioned to play a decisive role. The conversation also explores the enormous potential for U.S.-Korea private sector investment, how to mobilize that capital effectively, and the evolution of economic security tools like export controls and their continued relevance in 2026. Hillman also weighs in on the challenges and advantages of supply chain reshoring and offers his read on what may unfold at a potential U.S.-China summit this year.
You can find the full report here: https://www.cfr.org/task-force-reports/us-economic-security !
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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.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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Dr. Ellen Kim discusses her new coauthored book, “China's Weaponization of Trade: Resistance Through Collective Resilience,” which tracks hundreds of cases where China has used its economic power to punish or pressure other countries and companies. Ellen Kim is the Director of Academic Affairs at KEI. Previously, she was deputy director and senior fellow with the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Ellen reveals a surprising finding: the United States and its allies have more leverage over China than most people realize—especially when it comes to critical minerals like nickel that China desperately needs. The book explains how China's approach to economic pressure is fundamentally different from tools the United States often uses, like sanctions, and puts forth a strategy called "collective resilience,” drawing from NATO's "attack on one is an attack on all" principle, but applied to trade and economics. Ellen also discusses "predatory liberalism," a phenomenon where countries using trade as a weapon encourages others to do the same, while smaller nations stay quiet to avoid becoming targets. The conversation tackles critical questions for the United States, but also for South Korea, Australia, and other middle powers. Specifically, how does a mid-sized economy protect itself when caught between the United States and China? Ellen explores the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to reduce Korea's economic vulnerabilities and the unique challenges Korea faces as competition between Washington and Beijing intensifies. About the Book: China's Weaponization of Trade provides the most detailed analysis yet of how China uses economic coercion, identifies where targeted countries actually have bargaining power, and offers practical strategies for how democracies can defend themselves in an era where trade has become a weapon. You can order a copy from Columbia University Press here: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/chinas-weaponization-of-trade/9780231564205/
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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.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented electricity demand, the United States and South Korea are exploring a new strategic frontier: nuclear energy cooperation. Dr. Yongsoo Hwang, Distinguished Professor for Special Affairs at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, joins Eye on Korea to explain how South Korea’s proven record of delivering nuclear projects on time and on cost, through KHNP, Doosan Enerbility, and other private sector players, coupled with deep expertise in engineering, procurement, construction, and management, positions it as a compelling partner in America’s push to scale reliable baseload power for the AI era.
Together with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder, Dr. Hwang unpacks the technical and commercial unknowns still separating U.S. and Korean reactor pathways, including AP1000 versus AP1400 deployment, private-sector decision-making, supply chain constraints, and timelines beyond 2026. The conversation also explores South Korea’s European track record as a benchmark for U.S. market prospects, public opinion shifts driven by cost realities and NIMBY constraints, nuclear safety and waste challenges, enrichment and reprocessing debates, the growing discussion around nuclear latency, and more. The TL;DR? The U.S. and Korea can deliver secure, scalable power for the AI economy with nuclear energy.
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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.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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Bruce Klingner, Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation, unpacks why the U.S.-South Korea alliance feels simultaneously more stable than many predicted and more uncertain than it appears. Describing the relationship as a “Schrödinger’s alliance,” Bruce explores how turbulence, misperceptions, and competing strategic impulses in Washington and Seoul are shaping alliance politics. He examines the different factions within the Trump administration pulling policy in opposing directions, touches on the implications of the Maduro capture for alliance optics, the sharp contrasts between President Trump’s first and second National Security Strategies, the unresolved questions surrounding South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, and more.
Bruce Klingner is a Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation and a leading analyst on North Korea, deterrence, and U.S.-Korea alliance dynamics, with decades of experience examining security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific.
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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.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
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Troy Stangarone, Non-Resident Fellow at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, joins KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder to discuss the Trump administration’s tariff framework and how it's reshaping the U.S.-South Korea economic relationship.
The conversation examines the shift away from the KORUS Free Trade Agreement toward sector-specific tariffs and how this change is influencing Korea’s trade and investment strategy. Troy analyzes the implications for automobiles, electric vehicles, semiconductors, steel, and shipbuilding, and discusses how Korean firms are navigating heightened uncertainty while working to remain competitive in the U.S. market.
The discussion also looks at Korea’s efforts to diversify its global trade partnerships, rising competitive pressure from China—particularly in electric vehicles and critical technologies—and the role of new U.S.–Korea investment mechanisms outlined in recent memoranda of understanding. The episode concludes with a deeper look at shipbuilding cooperation, workforce constraints, and the long-term challenge of rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity.
Troy Stangarone is a non-resident fellow with the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology. Previously he was the Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy and the Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Wilson Center. Mr. Stangarone specializes in economic and foreign policy relations on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
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In this episode of Eye on Korea, Jeannette Chu describes the evolution of U.S. export controls, from multilateral coordination to today’s more unilateral “small yard, high fence” approach. These shifts fit into a broader national security strategy, she argues, and have important implications for Korea’s role as a leading innovation partner in semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing. The conversation also looks at the White House’s AI Action Plan and where U.S. policy is heading next. Jeannette discusses why the traditional separation between security and economics is becoming less relevant for understanding South Korea’s foreign-policy priorities. The discussion also explores the Supreme Court case surrounding IEEPA tariff authorities, the trade and economic priorities shaping Trump’s 2025 agenda, and the biggest trade and technology issues to watch as we head into 2026. Jeannette L. Chu is Vice President for National Security Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, where she leads the Council’s work on export controls, sanctions, and national security regulatory policy. A former Senior Managing Director at PwC and Senior Policy Advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security, she served nearly six years in China as the Senior Export Control Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and Consulate General in Guangzhou. She is also a Non-Resident Senior Associate with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS.
Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links:Website: https://keia.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [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.]
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Tami Overby, Senior Counselor at DGA-Albright Stonebridge Group, analyzes the outcomes of the Trump-Lee meeting on the sidelines of APEC, and the long-awaited investment deal and what it signals about the next phase of the U.S.-Korea relationship. She explains how Washington’s green light for South Korean nuclear-powered submarine development fits into alliance strategy and how it may complement U.S. shipbuilding priorities at a moment when industrial capacity and defense production are becoming central to national security planning.
The conversation also examines Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping and why Tami believes that the semiconductor export controls and purchase agreements could hold at least through next year. She discusses the unknowns that still surround the U.S.-Korea trade agreement, including how tariffs and investment incentives will be implemented, and what further clarity businesses are looking for as capital begins to move.
The discussion also explores the growing importance of critical minerals to U.S. and Korean defense industries, and what Korea’s path as next year’s APEC host suggests about its long-term position in the Indo-Pacific.
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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.]
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Matthew P. Goodman, Distinguished Fellow for Geoeconomic Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), joins Eye on Korea to discuss this year’s APEC Summit in South Korea and why expectations should be modest.
Goodman outlines the three tiers of APEC and how this year’s policy agenda fits within its broader framework. He also highlights the importance of working-level meetings that quietly sustain regional cooperation throughout the yearlong buildup to the event.
The conversation explores how APEC’s long-standing mission of reducing trade barriers increasingly clashes with the U.S. shift toward tariffs and industrial policy, and how the geopolitics of tariffs are reshaping regional dynamics, including the U.S.–Japan investment deal and prospects for a U.S.–Korea trade agreement. Goodman also assesses whether Presidents Trump and Xi were ever on track for a trade breakthrough—and why that momentum stalled before APEC.
Korea, Japan, and Australia continue to have huge stakes in the U.S. security alliance and market access, Goodman argues, making decoupling very unlikely. Instead, allies may increasingly hedge by deepening participation in parallel trade arrangements such as the CPTPP, which remains an attractive vehicle for Indo-Pacific economies seeking stable and rules-based trade integration.
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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.]
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Wendy Cutler, Vice President at the Asia Society Policy Institute and a former U.S. trade negotiator, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder to break down the state of U.S.–Korea trade talks — and why a long-awaited deal remains elusive.
We examine the sticking points at the heart of negotiations, including Washington’s push for a $350 billion Korean investment fund, Seoul’s concerns over U.S. demands, and how the recent U.S.–Japan trade agreement has complicated Korea’s bargaining position. Wendy also unpacks the continued fallout from the Hyundai immigration raid, how visa bottlenecks are slowing new investment, and why both sides may need to abandon a “take it or leave it” posture to reach an agreement.The conversation also explores what message Seoul might deliver directly to Donald Trump at the APEC summit, which tariff concessions matter most for autos, semiconductors, and steel, and how the 2026 USMCA review could reshape trade dynamics across the Indo-Pacific.
Finally, we discuss how shifting public opinion and growing emphasis on economic security and supply chains are redefining the U.S.–Korea alliance for a new era.
Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links:Website: https://keia.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [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.]
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Jeff Schott, Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, joins KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder to break down the challenges and opportunities in U.S.–Korea trade relations. We discuss how U.S. tariff policy under the Trump administration has reshaped Korea’s auto exports and the U.S. Korea free trade agreement (KORUS FTA), the fallout from the Hyundai raid in Georgia, and what it means for South Korean investment in the United States. Jeff also explores opportunities for deeper cooperation in shipbuilding and LNG, Korea’s balancing act between Washington and Beijing, and how Seoul is weighing the benefits of joining the CPTPP alongside partners in the Asia-Pacific and Europe. Finally, we look at what’s at stake for the future of U.S.–Korea economic ties and explain why durable, coordinated trade and investment policy is critical for both countries.
Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links:Website: https://keia.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [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.]
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Rachel Minyoung Lee, Senior Fellow at the Stimson Center’s Korea Program and 38 North, unpacks Kim Jong Un’s high-profile visit to Beijing in early September. This was Kim’s first multilateral gathering, aimed at showing the world he is a leader—not just a player—in an emerging Cold War dynamic between China, Russia, and North Korea on one side, and the U.S. and its allies on the other.
We discuss how Kim sought propaganda wins ahead of a major political event in Pyongyang, his strengthening long-term relationship with Vladimir Putin, and the growing defense and munitions cooperation between North Korea and Russia. We also look at the quieter but more ambiguous ties between Kim and Xi Jinping, with their latest summit producing the vaguest readout yet.
Rachel also breaks down North Korea’s effort to balance Beijing and Moscow for its own gain, Pyongyang’s role in the war in Ukraine, and why the future of inter-Korean relations looks increasingly bleak. Finally, we explore what to expect from the upcoming 9th Party Congress, how North Korea sets its long-term agenda, and why Pyongyang remains firmly anti-U.S.—but not necessarily anti-Trump.
Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more!
Social Links:
Website: https://keia.org/
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/
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Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst
[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.]
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Zack Cooper, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, unpacks the Trump administration’s national security priorities, which he groups into homeland defense and the Indo-Pacific. He weighs in on why he’s impressed with South Korea’s early moves under the Lee administration, but warns that Seoul may be overly optimistic about Washington’s expectations.
Dr. Cooper also discusses Trump’s demands of allies to increase defense spending, the possibility of U.S. troop withdrawals from South Korea as leverage, and how extended deterrence guarantees could gradually weaken until Seoul offers more. The conversation also explores where North Korea sits on the U.S.-ROK priority list, how China factors into the Trump-Lee summit, and the future of OP-CON and strategic flexibility.
Looking ahead at the summit in DC on August 25, Dr. Cooper explains why shipbuilding is a smart bet for President Lee to keep Washington engaged and invested in South Korea’s defense.
Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more!
Social Links:
Website: https://keia.org/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst
[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.]
- Visa fler
