Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Ely Ratner, and Mr. Scott Snyder discussed two of China’s major diplomatic events—the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and the Victory Day Parade—as well as the Xi-Putin-Kim meeting, Kim Ju Ae's international debut, the growing alignment of hostile actors, and what all these developments mean for the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. and its allies, and more.

This episode is a special crossover with our CSIS sister podcast, State of Play. After a busy month of U.S. diplomacy, Victor Cha and Max Bergmann join Will to discuss what East Asian and European allies are learning about summits with President Trump and what patterns are emerging about how President Trump engages with autocrats. "⁠Statesmen’s Forum: His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea⁠" CSIS, August 25, 2025. "⁠Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits⁠" Russian Roulette, CSIS, August 21, 2025. Listen to CSIS Podcast State of Play at https://www.csis.org/podcasts/state-play

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.

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Hyo-young Lee discussed Korea’s economic security issues, supply chain challenges, the future of U.S.-ROK economic cooperation under the new Trump administration, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Yoojin Kim, and Mr. Eunjoong Kim discussed South Korea's ongoing political crisis, the future direction of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, the possibility of a new South Korean government, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, and Dr. Kang Choi discussed how South Korea's current political crisis will impact its foreign policy and its relations with the United States, its neighbors, and more.

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler and Dr. Seth Jones discussed North Korea and Russia's cooperation for the war in Ukraine, North Korea's deployment of soldiers to support Russia, the Trump Administration's policy to weaken North Korea-Russia cooperation, and more. 

In this episode, Dr. Ellen Kim and Mr. Sydney Seiler discuss the DPRK's recent and anticipated actions, the potential for exploitation of ROK political developments, US policy toward the North under a second Trump administration, and more. 

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Darcie Draudt-Véjares, and Mr. Bruce Klingner discuss the current political situation in South Korea. Topics will include updates on President Yoon's martial law, his impeachment, what's next for the Korean peninsula and US-ROK alliance, and more. 

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler and Secretary General Yongho Tae discuss the latest developments in North Korea. Topics will include updates on North Korean human rights issues, South Korea's policy toward North Korea, and the current situation in North Korea.

In this episode, Andrew Schwartz, Victor Cha, and distinguished guests discuss the Kremlin's motivations, the potential impacts on the battlefield in Ukraine, what North Korea is likely to receive in return, how Beijing may perceive this development, and more.