

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 12, 2022 • 35min
Abe's Legacy on Japan-Korea Relations
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Mr. Nicholas Szechenyi, Senior Fellow with the Japan Chair and Deputy Director for Asia at CSIS, to discuss Abe's death, the implications of the Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese defense security reform under Prime Minister Kishida, as well as trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and Korea.

Aug 30, 2022 • 1h 5min
Best of the ROK-US Strategic Forum 2022: Normalization of Korea-Japan Relations
In Session 2, " Normalization of Korea-Japan Relations," of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022, speakers Dr. Choi Eunbong, Dr. Ellen Kim, Dr. Sheila Smith, Dr. Sohn Yul, and Dr. Yoon Young-kwan discussed ways to improve the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan.

Aug 26, 2022 • 1h 1min
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022: The Biden-Yoon Summit and Korea’s Pivot to Regional Leadership
In Session 1, "The Biden-Yoon Summit and Korea’s Pivot to Regional Leadership," of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022, speakers Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Ma Sangyoon, Mr. Robert Rapson, Dr. Yoon Young-kwan, and Amb. Mark Lippert discussed the U.S.-Korea alliance, the potential cooperation opportunities, and North Korea issues.

Aug 17, 2022 • 36min
NK Leadership and The Sister
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Dr. Sung-Yoon Lee from Tufts University to discuss the nature of North Korean leadership throughout three generations, Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, as well as the rise of Kim Yo-jong, the subject of Dr. Lee's forthcoming book, The Sister.

Jul 28, 2022 • 36min
State, Society and Markets in North Korea
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asian Policy Studies, and professor of politics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for a conversation on his latest book, "State, Society and Markets in North Korea," an overview of North Korea's market history, state-market relationships, COVID-19 impacts on markets, and reflections on U.S. policy perspective.

Jul 7, 2022 • 26min
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022: Keynote Address by Daniel J. Kritenbrink
This special episode is from the 7th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum on June 6, 2022, CSIS Korea Chair's premier international forum bringing together policymakers, experts, and officials to discuss US-ROK alliance issues. Moderated by Amb. Mark Lippert, Daniel J. Kritenbrink, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, delivers a keynote address on the U.S.- ROK Alliance.

Jun 30, 2022 • 24min
North Korea's Missile Threat - The Truth of the Matter Crossover Episode
In a crossover episode with CSIS's The Truth of the Matter, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz talk about what is expected to be North Korea's seventh nuclear test and its repercussions - from our recent Beyond Parallel report.

Jun 23, 2022 • 25min
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022: Welcoming Remarks by Lee Geun and Keynote Address by Wang Yunjong
This special episode is from the 7th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum on June 6, 2022, CSIS Korea Chair's premier international forum bringing together policymakers, experts, and officials to discuss US-ROK alliance issues. Lee Geun, the president of the Korea Foundation opens the event with welcoming remarks. The Secretary to the President for Economic Security, Wang Yunjong, delivers a keynote address on economic security, supply chains, and the ROK-U.S. cooperation.

Jun 14, 2022 • 31min
Korea-US-China Relations
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha are joined by Ellen Kim, the deputy director of the Korea Chair at CSIS, and Jonathan Cheng, China bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, for a discussion on the relationship between the United States, China, and Korea, including issues related to economics, foreign policy, and the current situation in Taiwan and North Korea.

May 26, 2022 • 37min
Takeaways from the First Biden-Yoon Summit
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha are joined by Christian Davies, Seoul Correspondent for the Financial Times to discuss the Biden-Yoon summit on May 21 as well as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, North Korea's missile and nuclear threat, and China's response to Biden's active agenda in Asia.