

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

Feb 14, 2022 • 2sec
Yoon Seok-yeol's Foreign Policy with Kim Sung-han
On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging Sue Mi Terry with violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The indictment alleges activities that took place, in part, during a period in which Ms. Terry was employed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS is not a party to this litigation and takes the allegations seriously. CSIS maintains strict policies to ensure full compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the intellectual independence of its scholarship. In light of these serious allegations, CSIS cannot verify the independence of the scholarship of this material containing the views of Ms. Terry and has therefore archived this content pending the resolution of the charges.

Feb 9, 2022 • 24min
Undeclared NK Missile Base 15 Miles from China Border
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz is joined by Victor Cha and Joe Bermudez to talk about the new CSIS report on the Hoejung-ni missile operating base, which is located just 15 miles from the Chinese border, and will, according to informed sources, likely house a regiment-sized unit equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).

Jan 31, 2022 • 2sec
A Look at the South Korean Presidential Election
On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging Sue Mi Terry with violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The indictment alleges activities that took place, in part, during a period in which Ms. Terry was employed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS is not a party to this litigation and takes the allegations seriously. CSIS maintains strict policies to ensure full compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the intellectual independence of its scholarship. In light of these serious allegations, CSIS cannot verify the independence of the scholarship of this material containing the views of Ms. Terry and has therefore archived this content pending the resolution of the charges.

Jan 14, 2022 • 2sec
Lee Jae-myung’s Foreign Policy with Wi Sung-lac
On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging Sue Mi Terry with violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The indictment alleges activities that took place, in part, during a period in which Ms. Terry was employed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS is not a party to this litigation and takes the allegations seriously. CSIS maintains strict policies to ensure full compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the intellectual independence of its scholarship. In light of these serious allegations, CSIS cannot verify the independence of the scholarship of this material containing the views of Ms. Terry and has therefore archived this content pending the resolution of the charges.

Dec 9, 2021 • 50min
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021: Trilateralism and U.S.-ROK Alliance in Indo-Pacific Region
In Session 3, "Trilateralism and U.S.-ROK Alliance in Indo-Pacific Region" of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021, speakers Andrew Yeo, Alex Wong, Kim Hyun-wook, Kim Ji-young and Victor Cha discussed U.S., Japan and South Korea trilateral relations and what it means for the Indo-Pacific region.

Dec 6, 2021 • 2sec
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021: Denuclearization and Peace on the Korean Peninsula: Is There a Way Forward?
On July 16, 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice unsealed an indictment charging Sue Mi Terry with violations of the Foreign Agents Registration Act. The indictment alleges activities that took place, in part, during a period in which Ms. Terry was employed by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. CSIS is not a party to this litigation and takes the allegations seriously. CSIS maintains strict policies to ensure full compliance with the Foreign Agents Registration Act and the intellectual independence of its scholarship. In light of these serious allegations, CSIS cannot verify the independence of the scholarship of this material containing the views of Ms. Terry and has therefore archived this content pending the resolution of the charges.

Dec 3, 2021 • 56min
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021: U.S.-China Competition and the Alliance
In Session 1, "U.S.-China Competition and the Alliance: To Hedge or to Choose?," of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021, speakers Dr. Evan Medeiros, Mr. Randall Schriver, Dr. Kim Joon-hyung, Dr. Ma Sangyoon, Dr. Sohn In-Joo and Amb. Mark Lippert discussed the U.S.-China competition and what it means for Korea and the U.S.-ROK alliance.

Dec 1, 2021 • 35min
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021: Keynote Address by First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun
In the keynote address for the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021, First Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong Kun of the Republic of Korea explained South Korea's foreign policy, the ROK-U.S. alliance, inter-Korea relations and an end-of-war declaration and peace process on the Korean peninsula.

Oct 8, 2021 • 29min
Dovish Hawk? South Korea’s Military Buildup
In this episode, Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Lami Kim, Assistant Professor at the U.S. Army War College, and a CSIS-USC U.S.-Korea NextGen Scholar for a conversation on their recent op-eds in Foreign Affairs and War on the Rocks, military buildup under South Korean president Moon Jae-in, and options for dealing with the North Korean crisis. Dr. Victor Cha, Foreign Affairs: https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/north-korea/2021-09-22/last-chance-stop-north-korea Dr. Lami Kim, War on the Rocks: https://warontherocks.com/2021/09/a-hawkish-dove-president-moon-jae-in-and-south-koreas-military-buildup/

Sep 14, 2021 • 35min
North Korean Human Rights and the Biden Administration
In this episode, Victor Cha is joined by Amb. Robert King, the former special envoy for North Korean human rights, and Mr. Lindsay Lloyd, Bradford M. Freeman Director of the Human Freedom Initiative at the George W. Bush Institute for a conversation on North Korean human rights.