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

Through nonpartisan, expert analysis and cutting-edge, data-driven 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.

The Korea Chair examines issues ranging from politics, economy, and foreign policy to economic security, geopolitics, and non-proliferation. The program runs Beyond Parallel, a microsite dedicated to Korean unification, and employs satellite imagery analysis to monitor and track developments on and around the peninsula. Beyond Parallel also houses years of accumulated databases on nuclear diplomacy, unification, and the US-Korea alliance.

New projects that look beyond the peninsula include the role of the G7 in global governance and the weaponization of economic interdependence. The program actively promotes policy discussion in Washington and Seoul through the Impossible State podcast and the Capital Cable series live on YouTube.

Dr. Victor Cha, a former White House official and Georgetown University distinguished professor, is leading the Korea program as the inaugural chairholder since 2009.

Join our mailing list, subscribe to the Impossible State podcast, and follow us on Twitter to receive the Korea Chair’s latest analysis and event invitations.

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Media Queries

Featured Analysis

Recent Developments Along the China-North Korea Border

Satellite images of the NK-China border indicate that trade between the two countries is gradually recovering to pre-pandemic levels. However, this restoration of trade was upended when unusually heavy rains struck the area in late July.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — September 30, 2024

The Impossible State Podcast Banner

The Black Box

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha — September 26, 2024

See all analysis by the Korea Chair

Recent Event

The Impossible State Live Podcast: The Black Box

Presented by Korea Chair
September 23, 2024 • 11:00 – 11:40 am EDT

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Recent Developments Along the China-North Korea Border

Satellite images of the NK-China border indicate that trade between the two countries is gradually recovering to pre-pandemic levels. However, this restoration of trade was upended when unusually heavy rains struck the area in late July.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — September 30, 2024

Audio Briefs

The Korean Peninsula: Make or Break?

An audio version of “The Korean Peninsula: Make or Break?,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Ellen Kim. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Ellen Kim — September 26, 2024

Audio Briefs

The Korean Peninsula: Make or Break?

Nowhere in the Indo-Pacific could the U.S. presidential election results precipitate more disparate outcomes than on the Korean Peninsula. Changes could have broad strategic ripple effects throughout the region.

Commentary by Ellen Kim — September 26, 2024

The Impossible State

The Black Box

In this episode, Andrew Schwarz and Victor Cha discuss Dr. Victor Cha's new book, The Black Box: Demystifying the Study of Korean Unification and North Korea.

Podcast Episode by H. Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha — September 26, 2024

CSIS The Impossible State North Korea

The Impossible State Live Podcast: The Black Box

Please join the Impossible State live podcast for a special discussion on Victor Cha's new book, The Black Box: Demystifying the Study of Korean Unification and North Korea.

Event — September 23, 2024

The Impossible State

Recent Developments in North Korea

In this episode, Dr. Cha and Mr. Bruce Klingner discuss recent developments regarding North Korea's missile deployment, successor plan, garbage-filled balloons, and more. 

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha — August 19, 2024

CSIS The Impossible State North Korea