Korea

Korea

The alliance between the Republic of Korea and the United States remains critical to maintaining peace on the Korean Peninsula and in the surrounding region, while trade and investments between both countries provides a foundation for enhanced cooperation in key areas such as technology and energy. The pursuit of nuclear weapons by the regime in North Korea threatens to destabilize the peninsula and the entire region. The Republic of Korea is also increasingly exploring opportunities to engage with Southeast Asia and contribute to the US vision for the Indo-Pacific.

Diplomacy surrounding the Korean peninsula

Dispatches Jan 27, 2026

Taiwan has been a strategic blind spot for South Korea

By Bee Yun Jo

South Korea is beginning to acknowledge that cross-Strait stability is increasingly a foundational element of overall regional security.
China Indo-Pacific
Diplomacy surrounding the Korean peninsula

New Atlanticist Dec 18, 2025

South Korea and Europe are stepping up on security cooperation. Here’s why.

By David F. Helvey

The growing ties reflect a shared understanding that deterrence in the twenty-first century is global.
Defense Industry Europe & Eurasia
Diplomacy surrounding the Korean peninsula

New Atlanticist Nov 6, 2025

How South Korea advanced its trade and technology agenda at the APEC summit

By Kayla T. Orta

South Korea leveraged its diplomatic influence to strengthen Seoul’s standing within the multilateral economic framework and secure trade deals with the United States.
Economy & Business Indo-Pacific

Projects

Close up of tiger

The Tiger Project: War and deterrence in the Indo-Pacific

Explore the Atlantic Council’s work on current and enduring defense and deterrence issues in the Indo-Pacific, featuring expert commentary, multimedia content, and in-depth analysis.

Explore the programs

The Indo-Pacific Security Initiative (IPSI) informs and shapes the strategies, plans, and policies of the United States and its allies and partners to address the most important rising security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, including China’s growing threat to the international order and North Korea’s destabilizing nuclear weapons advancements. IPSI produces innovative analysis, conducts tabletop exercises, hosts public and private convenings, and engages with US, allied, and partner governments, militaries, media, other key private and public-sector stakeholders, and publics.

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Content

Report

Jun 25, 2019

Diplomacy surrounding the Korean peninsula

By Taisuke Mibae and James L. Schoff

For more than half a century, the US-Japan and US-ROK alliances have played critical roles for maintenance and enhancement of peace and security in Northeast Asia, the entire Asia-Pacific region, and even the world. The future course of US-North Korea and inter-Korea negotiations over denuclearization and building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula is […]

Korea Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Jun 19, 2019

North Korea must regain Washington’s trust, South Korean official says

By David A. Wemer

Special adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in argues that diplomatic and security assurances—not sanctions relief—are the key to achieving North Korean denuclearization

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Korea

New Atlanticist

Jun 19, 2019

‘Door is wide open’ for negotiations with North Korea, US envoy says

By Ashish Kumar Sen

With US-North Korean diplomacy stuck in a ‘holding pattern,’ Stephen Biegun says North Korean negotiators must be empowered to discuss denuclearization.

Korea Nuclear Nonproliferation
SKdelegation

Program Impact Story

Jun 19, 2019

2019 Atlantic Council-East Asia Foundation Strategic Dialogue

By Atlantic Council

On June 19, the Asia Security Initiative hosted a full-day public conference to develop forward-looking recommendations for ongoing efforts with the DPRK, the US-ROK security and economic partnership, and their implications in the broader Indo-Pacific region. US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and his South Korean counterpart, Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace […]

Indo-Pacific Korea

New Atlanticist

Jun 18, 2019

Can Xi’s visit to North Korea facilitate US-China trade talks?

By Ashish Kumar Sen

Chinese President Xi Jinping’s first state visit to North Korea this week will underscore Beijing’s clout in Pyongyang and, by doing so, Xi may be looking to re-energize a US effort to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula and gain leverage in stalled US-China trade negotiations.

China Korea

New Atlanticist

May 15, 2019

Coherent US strategy seen key to effective sanctions

By David A. Wemer

“Sanctions can be a useful, precise, and effective tool of US foreign policy, so long as they are treated as a tool to implement a clear policy and a thought-out strategy,” David Mortlock said.

Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion Iran

New Atlanticist

May 8, 2019

Policing terror finance in an era of great competition

By Michael B. Greenwald

The United States' sanctions strategy is increasingly burdened by the involvement of systemically important financial institutions and sovereign investors in global financial statecraft.

China Financial Regulation

IranSource

Apr 1, 2019

Iran-North Korea relationship reflects failed US policies

By Mintaro Oba

Before he was Iran’s Supreme Leader, then-President Ayatollah Ali Khamenei visited North Korea in 1989—a trip that included a ride on the Pyongyang subway and a motorcade ride past throngs of cheering North Koreans. It was intended to send a strong message: North Korea and Iran, driven by mutual enmity toward the United States, were becoming close friends.

Iran Korea

New Atlanticist

Mar 22, 2019

Trump’s reversal of North Korea sanctions sends a dangerous signal

By Ashish Kumar Sen

"President Trump is making clear to China, Russia, and even South Korea that the UN sanctions are not to be taken seriously," Jamie Metzl said.

Korea Nuclear Nonproliferation

In the News

Mar 21, 2019

Cohen in Forbes: North Korea Illegally Trades Oil, Coal, With China’s Help

By Ariel Cohen

Read the full article here

Korea
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Experts

Staff

Uri Friedman

Senior Editorial Director

Coronavirus Democratic Transitions

Staff

Markus Garlauskas

Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Crisis Management Indo-Pacific

Fellow

Bradley T. Gericke

Former Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Conflict

Staff

Lauren D. Gilbert

Deputy Director

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

East Asia Human Rights

Fellow

Bee Yun Jo

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Korea Korean

Fellow

Heather Kearney

Nonresident Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Intelligence
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