The Impossible State

CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
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Aug 4, 2025 • 33min

The Trump-South Korea Trade Deal: Who Wins?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Yoojin Kim, Dr. Philip Luck, and Mr. Bill Reinsch discussed the implications of this major trade development, including its impact on U.S.–South Korea economic ties; the outlook for allied investment in critical sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, steel, and shipbuilding; and the broader geopolitical dynamics shaping the deal.
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Jul 28, 2025 • 35min

US-South Korea Trade Deal and Alliance Modernization?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed prospects for a U.S.-South Korea trade deal before the end of the August 1 pause on 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Korea, and ways to modernize the 72-year old alliance under the new Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump administrations, and more.
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Jul 3, 2025 • 33min

Special Conversation with Senator Andy Kim

Join us for a bonus episode of the Impossible State Live podcast, recorded during the Looking Forward: The Future of United States–Japan–Korea Trilateral Relations event on June 18, 2025. Senator Andy Kim engaged in a conversation with Victor Cha to discuss the key challenges and opportunities across various sectors that will shape the future of trilateral relations among U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific.
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Jun 24, 2025 • 35min

Getting Started: The New Lee Jae-myung Government

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Jake Kwon, and Mr. Wonchul Kim discussed recent political developments under President Lee’s administration, outcomes of the G7 Summit, and the future direction of U.S.–ROK and U.S.–ROK–Japan relations. 
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Jun 9, 2025 • 44min

South Korea's New President

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Pacheco Pardo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed South Korea’s new president, the foreign policy challenges facing the incoming administration, and the implications of the election for U.S.–ROK relations and the broader Indo-Pacific region.
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May 30, 2025 • 41min

What Are U.S. and NATO Views on China?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Henrietta Levin, and Dr. Luis Simón discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward China, U.S.–China trade relations, the future of U.S. and NATO engagement with China, and more.
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May 6, 2025 • 38min

Is Trump ready to Re-engage with North Korea?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Sydney Seiler, and Ms. Yuki Tatsumi discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward North Korea, the possibility of a second Trump–Kim summit, its future direction in relation to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, and more.
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Apr 21, 2025 • 39min

Korea, Japan, and the Tariff War

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Kristi Govella, and Mr. William Reinsch discussed the tariff war, its potential impact on Korea, Japan, and other countries around the world, and more.
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Apr 11, 2025 • 34min

The Future of U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Cooperation

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Michael Green discussed U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, the Trump administration’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific, and more.
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Apr 7, 2025 • 47min

The Constitutional Court Decides Yoon's Fate

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Yoojin Kim, Andrew Yeo, and Darcie Draudt-Véjares discussed the analysis of the Constitutional Court's unanimous decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

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