The Impossible State

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.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Duyeon Kim, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discuss recent developments regarding North Korea's sending troops to Russia, North Korea blows up inter-Korean roads near the border, North Korea's new constitution, and more.

In this episode, Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha discuss Dr. Victor Cha's new book, The Black Box: Demystifying the Study of Korean Unification and North Korea.

In this episode, Dr. Cha and Mr. Bruce Klingner discuss recent developments regarding North Korea's missile deployment, successor plan, garbage-filled balloons, and more. 

In this episode, Dr. Cha and distinguished speakers discuss the significance of the Putin-Kim summit, the strengthening Russia-North Korea alliance, the implications of this alliance for regional and global security and why the Russia-North Korea alliance is a threat like no other.

In a crossover episode with CSIS's The Truth of the Matter, Dr. Victor Cha discusses Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang and why he believes the “Mutual Defense Treaty” agreed to by Russia and North Korea is the greatest threat to U.S. national security since the Korean War. Also discussed—what this means for the U.S. and its allies and how it impacts China.

In this episode, Dr. Cha and Ambassador Philip Goldberg explore the latest developments on the Korean peninsula and the U.S.-ROK alliance. Topics will include Korea's unique aspects as seen by Ambassador Goldberg; his priorities for U.S.-Korea relations; and the significance of recent regional developments, including the U.S.-Japan-ROK trilateral meeting, the Japan-ROK-China trilateral dialogue, and North Korea's recent provocations and ties with Russia.

This bonus episode is from Breaking Bad: South Korea's Nuclear Option Report Rollout Event on April 29, 2024. Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Vice President for Asia and Korea Chair, conducted the first U.S. multi-question polling of strategic elites in South Korea on the nuclear question. The new findings of this study “Breaking Bad: South Korea's Nuclear Option” have significant policy implications and the author provides several recommendations for the United States. 

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor at King's College London, KF-VUB Korea Chair, and adjunct fellow of Korea Chair at CSIS, to discuss the National Assembly election results, how the election will affect President Yoon's foreign policy, and what the outlook is moving forward.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Jung Pak, deputy assistant secretary of state for Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands and the U.S. senior official for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at the US Department of State, to discuss the Biden administration's North Korea policy, DPRK-Russia cooperation as well as what to expect from North Korea in 2024.