Korea Chair

The Korea Chair is the premier independent platform in Washington, D.C. for the advancement of major policy issues of common importance to the people of the Republic of Korea and the United States

Mission

Through nonpartisan, expert analysis and cutting-edge research on ongoing policy opportunities and security challenges facing the region, the Korea Chair promotes a greater understanding of relations between the United States, Korea, and Asia. 

CSIS appointed Dr. Victor Cha, former White House official and Georgetown University professor and vice dean as the inaugural chair holder in 2009. 

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Victor Cha

Victor Cha

Victor Cha

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Media Queries

Recent Analysis

Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

Photo: JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images

North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Campaign

North Korea’s ongoing ballistic missile campaign is no longer a protest to the U.S.-ROK military exercise. The latest missile launches are tantamount to war simulation drills to test the reliability and precision of its offensive striking capability.

Commentary by Ellen Kim — March 20, 2023

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Recent Event

Photo: DON EMMERT/AFP via Getty Images

North Korean Human Rights at a New Juncture

COVID, Regional Players, and South Korea-U.S. Cooperation

This event explored the human rights implications on North Korea's response to the massive coronavirus outbreak in the country as well as China's continuous complicity in North Korea's human rights abuses.

October 6, 2022

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U.S. Missile Defense & Extended Deterrence: Capital Cable #67

Please join us for a special discussion about U.S. missile defense and extended deterrence. 

Our experts will be joined by Dr. James N. Miller, assistant director for policy and analysis at the Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory’s (APL), where he leads major Laboratory initiatives focused on national security and related research and development priorities. He has also served as the U.S. Coordinator for AUKUS at the National Security Council since November 2021.

Prior to APL, he was former Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, advising Secretaries Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel on strategy, policy, and operations, and serving as the department’s deputy for National Security Council policy-making and crisis management. He was also a member of the Defense Science Board from 2014 to 2020. 

The Capital Cable is made possible by the generous support to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Event by James N. Miller , Mark Lippert , Victor Cha , and Sue Mi Terry — March 23, 2023

North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Campaign

North Korea’s ongoing ballistic missile campaign is no longer a protest to the U.S.-ROK military exercise. The latest missile launches are tantamount to war simulation drills to test the reliability and precision of its offensive striking capability.

Commentary by Ellen Kim — March 20, 2023

The Kishida-Yoon Summit Meeting: A New Start for Japan-Korea Relations

South Korean president Yoon Suk Yeol will visit Japan for a bilateral summit with Japanese prime minister Kishida Fumio, the first official summit in 12 years to be held in either country.

Critical Questions by Ellen Kim , Nicholas Szechenyi , Victor Cha , and Christopher B. Johnstone — March 15, 2023

Unanswered Questions about North Korean Leadership

The stability and continuity of the North Korean leadership is the biggest “known unknown” when it comes to assessing the future of North Korea. This discusses unanswered questions regarding three leadership variables: political control, health, and leadership succession. 

Report by Victor Cha and Katrin Fraser Katz — March 14, 2023

Korea-Japan Forced Labor Compensation Plan: Capital Cable #66

Please join us for a special discussion on the recently announced compensation plan by South Korea to resolve the wartime forced labor issue between Korea and Japan.

Event by Yuki Tatsumi , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — March 9, 2023

The Impossible State

Do Sanctions Really Work on North Korea?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Soo Kim and Mr. Anthony Ruggiero to discuss sanctions on North Korea, the history of sanctions, how to measure its effectiveness, China’s reaction to sanctions and ultimately answer the question of whether sanctions really works on North Korea.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha — March 7, 2023

CSIS The Impossible State North Korea

Japan and South Korea Turn the Page

Seoul and Tokyo announced the de facto resolution of their dispute over wartime conscripted labor—a major achievement that signals the arrival of a durable and much closer partnership between Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington.

Commentary by Victor Cha and Christopher B. Johnstone — March 6, 2023

The Capital Cable #65: South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy

Please join us for a special discussion on South Korea's Indo-Pacific Strategy with Dr. Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asia Policy Studies. He is also professor of politics at The Catholic University of America.

Event by Andrew Yeo , Victor Cha , Mark Lippert , and Sue Mi Terry — February 22, 2023