In this special extended episode of The Korea Pro Podcast, co-hosts Jeongmin and John are joined by Dr. Victor Cha, the senior vice president for Asia and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS). Dr. Cha discusses the findings of his new report on South Korean elites’ fragile opposition to nuclearization and shares his insights on the current debate surrounding the issue.

The conversation delves into the differences between South Korea’s public and strategic elites’ perceptions of a nuclear South Korea, the factors that could tip the scale in favor of nuclearization and the motivations and limitations of the study. Jeongmin and John also explore the potential impact of Donald Trump’s potential return to the U.S. presidency on the allies’ joint defense and the top risks facing the U.S.-ROK alliance going forward.

Dr. Victor Cha, who has served on the National Security Council and as the U.S. deputy head of delegation at the Six-Party Talks, also shares his thoughts on how unpredictable U.S. politics has become — an added variable for South Korea in navigating security and alliance issues. 

About the podcast: The Korea Pro Podcast is a weekly 15-minute conversation hosted by Editorial Director Jeongmin Kim (@jeongminnkim) and Editor John Lee (@koreanforeigner), diving deep into the most pressing stories shaping South Korea — and dissecting the most complicated ones for professionals monitoring ROK politics, diplomacy, culture, society and technology. Uploaded every Friday.

This episode was recorded on May 10, 2024. 

Audio edited by Joe Smith