

The Impossible State
CSIS | Center for Strategic and International Studies
North Korea is the Impossible State. Each episode, join the people who know the most about North Korea for an insiders’ discussion with host Victor Cha about one of the United States’ top national security priorities.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 19, 2023 • 26min
A Renewed Axis: Putin and Kim
In this episode, Dr. Ellen Kim is joined by Dr. Angela Stent and Dr. Victor Cha to discuss the second summit between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, the significance of the meeting at the spaceport, and the reactions of the United States and South Korea to this summit.

Sep 6, 2023 • 32min
South Korea's Role in a Taiwan Contingency
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Sungmin Cho to discuss South Korea's role in deterring North Korea's opportunistic aggression in a Taiwan contingency and providing rear area support.

Aug 30, 2023 • 55min
Reviewing the Camp David Trilateral Summit
This bonus episode is from the Reviewing the Camp David Trilateral Summit Event on August 29, 2023. Dr. Kurt Campbell, Deputy Assistant to the President and Coordinator for Indo-Pacific Affairs on the National Security Council, Ambassador Cho Hyundong of the Republic of Korea and Ambassador Tomita Koji of Japan discuss the summit and future trilateral relations.

Jul 27, 2023 • 26min
A Week of Detention and Deterrence on the Korean Peninsula
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Andrew Yeo to discuss a U.S. soldier who crossed into North Korea, short-range ballistic missiles conducted by North Korea, and the newly formed NCG between the United States and South Korea.

Jul 3, 2023 • 34min
Can the Downward Spiral in China-Korea Relations be Stopped?
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Ms. Bonnie Glaser to discuss the relations between South Korea and China, the upcoming NATO summit in July, and the relationship between China and North Korea during the COVID lockdown.

Jun 14, 2023 • 44min
Deep Dive: North Korea's Missile Threats
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Mr. Ankit Panda to discuss the recent North Korea's military spy satellite launch from the Sohae satellite launch site, North Korea's weapons development, and the 7th nuclear test.

May 19, 2023 • 47min
Republic of Korea State Visit Policy Debrief with DAS Mark Lambert: Live from Georgetown University
This bonus episode is from Georgetown University's Asian Studies Program Event on May 5th. Dr. Victor Cha is joined by special guest Mark B. Lambert, Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs at the Department of State for a debrief on President Yoon’s State Visit to Washington and related policy discussion.

May 15, 2023 • 40min
Yoon's China Policy: The Gloves are off?
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo to discuss the recent Biden-Yoon Summit from the European perspective, Yoon's policy regarding China, economic coercion, and North Korea.

May 8, 2023 • 45min
The Biden-Yoon Summit: Success or Not?
In this episode, Victor Cha is joined by Jinmyung Kim, Washington correspondent for the Chosun Ilbo, to discuss the significance of Yoon's state visit and the takeaways on North Korean denuclearization and trilateral relations with the United States, Korea, and Japan.

Apr 24, 2023 • 31min
Unpacking North Korea’s Isolation- The CommonHealth Crossover Episode
In a crossover episode with CSIS's The CommonHealth, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by J. Stephen Morrison, Senior Vice President and Director, Global Health Policy Center at CSIS, to discuss an update on what we know, suspect, and do not know about North Korea still in extreme isolation from the rest of the world; the status of its Covid outbreak and response; the heightened risk of famine; and the burgeoning exchange of North Korean weapons and ammunition in return for Russian food and energy.