Sydney Seiler was the national intelligence officer for North Korea at the National Intelligence Council from 2020 to 2023 and is one of the nation’s top experts on North Korea. Previously, he was the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) senior analyst and senior defense intelligence expert for North Korea from 2016 to 2020, serving as the principal adviser and senior expert on Korean Peninsula security issues to the USFK commander and the U.S. Defense Intelligence Enterprise. Mr. Seiler also served as the U.S. special envoy for Six Party Talks (2014–2015), where he coordinated U.S. diplomacy and policy on the DPRK and led negotiations with North Korea. Prior to that, Mr. Seiler served as the director for Korea on the National Security Council (2011–2014). A member of the Senior National Intelligence Service, Mr. Seiler has over 40 years of experience focusing on Korean Peninsula affairs in a range of executive management, intelligence, and policy positions within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Directorate of Analysis, the CIA’s Directorate of Operations, the CIA’s Open Source Center, and the National Security Agency. He has three decades of experience watching North Korea and 12 years of serving in South Korea. He received his MA degree in Korean studies from Yonsei University and is a graduate of the Korean language programs of the Defense Language Institute and Yonsei University.

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North Korea's Surprising Economic Boom | The Capital Cable #137

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times both recently called North Korea's economy a surprising success, pointing to its fastest growth in eight years and a remade Pyongyang. The Capital Cable #137 asks what is driving the boom, what it obscures, and what it says about Kim Jong-un's rule fifteen years on.

Event — July 2, 2026

The Impossible State

The CRINK Challenge: Implications for North Korea and Global Security

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Edward Howell, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed North Korea's relationships with the CRINK countries and examine Beijing’s priorities heading into an imminent Xi-Kim summit. 

Podcast Episode by Sydney Seiler and Victor Cha — June 10, 2026

The Impossible State Podcast

Previewing Xi Jinping’s Visit to North Korea | State of Play

At a macro level, President Xi is likely hoping to demonstrate a dynamic leading role on the international stage—particularly within the China, Russia, Iran, North Korea (CRINK) grouping of revisionist autocracies—while portraying U.S. influence globally as in decline.

Commentary by Sydney Seiler — June 5, 2026

Audio Briefs

Previewing Xi Jinping’s Visit to North Korea | State of Play

An audio version of "⁠Previewing Xi Jinping’s Visit to North Korea | State of Play⁠," a new Commentary by CSIS’s Sydney Seiler. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Sydney Seiler — June 5, 2026

Audio Briefs
The Impossible State

Cold Peace: Engaging DPRK to Reduce Risk and Threat

In this episode, Sydney Seiler, Ambassador Joseph Yun and Mr. Adam Farrar, discussed Dr. Victor Cha’s Foreign Affairs article “North Korea as It Is,” exploring frameworks for engaging Pyongyang, recognizing its nuclear reality, reducing risks, and pursuing conditions for future denuclearization.

Podcast Episode by Sydney Seiler, Adam Farrar, and Amb. Joseph Yun — May 27, 2026

The Impossible State Podcast

Reassessing the Strategic Value of China to Korea

With new administrations in Washington and Seoul, and discussion of finding a common approach to China, it is time for a bottom-up reassessment of China's strategic value to South Korea. South Korea cannot properly respond to U.S. policies toward China without a serious and comprehensive reevaluation of its relationship with its neighbor.

Event — May 13, 2026