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.

Meet Our Experts

Meet our network of experts, staff, and non-resident affiliates who contribute to the Korea Chair's analysis.

Contact

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

All Korea Chair Content

Filter by

61 - 70 of 1209 results

Recent Activity Observed at Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility

Recent satellite image of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility indicates that North Korea continues to be committed to maintaining the general health of the facility.

Commentary by Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Victor Cha, and Jennifer Jun — April 10, 2024

South Korea’s 2024 General Election: Results and Implications

On April 10, South Korea held its 22nd general election. The election concluded with victory for the main opposition Democratic Party, and all eyes are now on how the election outcomes will affect President Yoon Suk Yeol’s standing and his domestic and foreign policies.

Critical Questions by Victor Cha, Jinwan Park, and Andy Lim — April 10, 2024

Russia’s Veto: Dismembering the UN Sanctions Regime on North Korea

Russia’s veto of a UN resolution renewing the mandate of the UN Panel of Experts (PoE), which monitors UN member states’ enforcement of the UN sanctions regime on North Korea, will effectively end the mandate for the PoE, which expires at the end of April 2024.

Critical Questions by Victor Cha and Ellen Kim — March 29, 2024

The DPRK-Hamas Relationship

North Korea has a long history of relations with Hamas. Their relationship goes back to the 1960s when North Korea first started to provide financial assistance and training to the Palestinian Liberation Organization. 

Critical Questions by Ellen Kim and Salamata Bah — March 27, 2024

The Impossible State

Diplomacy or Crisis with DPRK in 2024?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Jung Pak, deputy assistant secretary of state for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands and the U.S. senior official for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the US Department of State, to discuss the Biden administration's North Korea policy, DPRK-Russia cooperation as well as what to expect from North Korea in 2024.

Podcast Episode by Victor Cha — March 22, 2024

CSIS The Impossible State North Korea

The 2024 IC Annual Threat Assessment: Analytic Authority and Policy Relevance

This past week leaders of the U.S. intelligence community presented their annual threat assessment, which provides excellent baselines for North Korea watchers to contextualize North Korea’s near-term coercive behavior while forecasting dangerous futures to plan for.

Commentary by Sydney Seiler — March 18, 2024