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.

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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

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The Black Box

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

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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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Yongbyon’s Status during the Trump-Kim Summits: A Thermal Analysis

Despite leader-to-leader exchanges in 2018 and 2019 aiming to advance denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, thermal infrared imagery of the Yongbyon Nuclear Research Center around the summit dates reveals limited impact on its overall operational status.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — July 29, 2024

Audio Briefs

Garbage, Balloons, and Korean Unification Values

An audio version of “Garbage, Balloons, and Korean Unification Values,” a new Critical Questions by CSIS’s Victor Cha and Andy Lim. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha and Andy Lim — July 2, 2024

Audio Briefs

Changes at North Korean Missile Operating Bases: Part 2

This second part of the missile operating bases update covers developments at Sakkanmol, Sangnam-ni, Sino-ri, and Yusang-ni Missile Operating Bases over the past several years.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — July 2, 2024

The Impossible State

A Threat Like No Other - The Russia-North Korea Alliance

In this episode, Dr. Cha and distinguished speakers discuss the significance of the Putin-Kim summit, the strengthening Russia-North Korea alliance, the implications of this alliance for regional and global security and why the Russia-North Korea alliance is a threat like no other.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha, Maria Snegovaya, Jude Blanchette, and Sydney Seiler — July 1, 2024

CSIS The Impossible State North Korea

Garbage, Balloons, and Korean Unification Values

North Korea’s campaign utilizing garbage-filled balloons is the latest manifestation of North Korea’s new “decoupling” policy from South Korea, showcasing the Kim regime's anger with both the conservative and liberal political groups in South Korea.

Critical Questions by Andy Lim and Victor Cha — July 1, 2024

New Horizons in Korea-U.S.-Japan Trilateral Cooperation

In a new Korea Chair Platform, Dr. Wooseon Choi of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy discuss new horizons in Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation and new areas to advance cooperation.

Newsletter by Wooseon Choi — June 27, 2024