The Return of the Nuclear Sea-Launched Cruise Missile (SLCM-N) | HTK
November 4, 2026 • 1:00 – 2:00 pm EST
Hosted by HTK Series
The Strategic Implications of the Russia-North Korea Axis
November 16, 2026 • 9:00 am – 1:35 pm EST
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What began in 2022 as a transactional exchange of North Korean munitions for Russian compensation has become the most consequential authoritarian partnership of the war in Ukraine. North Korean troops now fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk, and Moscow is reported to be aiding Pyongyang’s conventional and strategic programs in return.
This conference asks how durable that partnership will prove, and what it means for the United States and its allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific. Bringing together leading specialists on Russia and North Korea, it examines the relationship through three lenses (theory, North Korea’s calculus, and Russia’s calculus) and weighs whether a tactical alignment of convenience is hardening into a lasting strategic alliance.
This event is made possible by the support of the Smith Richardson Foundation.
Conference Agenda
Registration
8:30 am
Welcoming Remarks
9:00 am
Victor Cha, President, Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair; Distinguished University Professor, Georgetown University
Panel 1: The Logic of Revisionist Alliances
9:10 am
Paper Writer
Randall Schweller, Professor of Political Science and Director, Program for the Study of Realist Foreign Policy, The Ohio State University
Discussants
Alexander Lanoszka, Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Waterloo
Joshua Byun, Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
Moderator
Victor Cha, CSIS and Georgetown University
Panel 2: Russia's Calculus
10:35 am
Paper Writers
Alexandre Mansourov, Adjunct Professor and Faculty Co-Lead, Asia Focus Area, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
Fyodor Tertitskiy, Lecturer, Korea University (virtual)
Discussants
Hanna Notte, Senior Associate (Non-resident), Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, CSIS; Director, Eurasia Nonproliferation Program, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (virtual)
Sergey Radchenko, Rupert Murdoch Distinguished Professor, Henry A. Kissinger Center for Global Affairs, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
Moderator
Maria Snegovaya, Senior Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, CSIS; Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
Lunch
11:50 am
Food will be provided
Panel 3: North Korea's Calculus
12:20 pm
Paper Writers
Andrei Lankov, Professor of Korean Studies, Kookmin University, Seoul; Director, Korea Risk Group
Rachel Minyoung Lee, Senior Fellow, Korea Program and 38 North, Stimson Center; Co-Chair, North Korea Economic Forum, George Washington University’s Institute for Korean Studies
Discussants
Adam Farrar, Senior Associate (Non-resident), Korea Chair, CSIS; Senior Geoeconomics Analyst for the Asia-Pacific, Bloomberg Economics; former Director for the Korean Peninsula and Mongolia, National Security Council
J.P. Morris, Office of the Director of National Intelligence
Moderator
Sydney Seiler, Senior Adviser (Non-resident), Korea Chair, CSIS; Former National Intelligence Officer for North Korea, National Intelligence Council
Closing Remarks
1:35 pm
Victor Cha, CSIS and Georgetown University
Hosted By
Contact Information
- Andy Lim
- Deputy Director and Fellow, Korea Chair
- 202.644.5651
- [email protected]
Speakers
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Randall L. Schweller
Professor of Political Science and Director, Program for the Study of Realist Foreign Policy, The Ohio State University
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Alexander Lanoszka
Associate Professor of International Relations, University of Waterloo
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Joshua Byun
Assistant Professor, Georgetown University
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Fyodor Tertitskiy
Lecturer, Korea University
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Alexandre Mansourov
Adjunct Professor and Faculty Co-Lead, Asia Focus Area, School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University
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Senior Associate (Non-resident), Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, CSIS; Director, Eurasia Nonproliferation Program, James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
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Sergey Radchenko
Rupert Murdoch Distinguished Professor, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies
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Senior Fellow, Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program, CSIS; Adjunct Professor, Georgetown University
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Andrei Lankov
Professor of Korean Studies, Kookmin University, Seoul; Director, Korea Risk Group
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Rachel Minyoung Lee
Senior Fellow, Korea Program and 38 North, Stimson Center
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Senior Associate (non-resident), CSIS Korea Chair; Senior Geoeconomics Analyst for the Asia-Pacific, Bloomberg Economics
J.P. Morris
Office of the Director of National Intelligence
