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.

The Korean Pivot and the Return of Great Power Politics in Northeast Asia

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
The Korean Pivot and the Return of Great Power Politics in Northeast Asia

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
The Korean Pivot and the Return of Great Power Politics in Northeast Asia

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

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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

Nov 23, 2015

The Korean Pivot and the Return of Great Power Politics in Northeast Asia

By Sungtae Jacky Park

As China reemerges, Japan revitalizes, and the United States rebalances toward Asia, competition over Korea will likely return. In The Korean Pivot and the Return of Great Power Politics in Northeast Asia, Sungtae Jacky Park examines Korea’s strategies toward great powers, discusses the future of the strategic dynamic on the Korean peninsula, explores the potential […]

Korea

Report

Nov 13, 2015

Japan’s security role and capabilities in the 2020s

By Roger Cliff

Security challenges in East Asia are becoming acute. North Korea is developing a missile-deliverable nuclear weapon, and the long-term stability of the Pyongyang regime is questionable. Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of Chinese territory, is about to have a presidential election in which a candidate from a pro-independence party is the front-runner. China has […]

Defense Policy Japan

In the News

Nov 5, 2015

Manning: Trilateral Summit Could Bring New Realism to Northeast Asia

By Robert A. Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for the Global Times on the recent trilateral meeting between China, Japan, and South Korea, the first since 2012: 

China Japan

In the News

Oct 23, 2015

Manning: How to Deal with the Great Asian Mystery: North Korea’s Durability

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning writes for Nikkei Asian Review on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and predictions about the regime’s durability:

Korea

In the News

Oct 12, 2015

Fox News Highlights Brent Scowcroft Center Event

By Atlantic Council

Fox News highlights an event hosted by the Atlantic Council’s Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security with North America Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Commander Admiral William Gortney on evolving national security challenges:

Korea

In the News

Aug 21, 2015

Metzl on the North-South Korean Conflict

By Jamie Metzl

CNN quotes Brent Scowcroft Center Nonresident Senior Fellow for Technology and National Security Jamie Metzl on the possibility of an escalation of the recent North-South Korean military actions:

Korea

In the News

Aug 21, 2015

Manning on North and South Korea Shelling

By Robert Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert Manning joins TRT World to discuss the recent exchange of fire between North and South Korea:

Korea

In the News

Jul 23, 2015

Manning: North Korea’s Political Famines

By Robert A. Manning

Brent Scowcroft Center Resident Senior Fellow Robert A. Manning cowrites for the Wall Street Journal about why North Korea is able to produce ever more ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons yet is unable to feed its people:

Korea

Defense Industrialist

Jul 17, 2015

Like Cars, Like Cargo Ships

By James Hasik

North Americans are really uneconomical shipbuilders, and their navies should demand better. Ford announced this week that the company will stop building small cars in Michigan, or anywhere in the States, as price pressure precludes paying workers what’s worth their while. Ford will build its new Lincoln Continental in Michigan, but that’s because the profit […]

Defense Industry Korea

Event Recap

Jun 29, 2015

Missile Defense in the Asia Pacific

By Brent Scowcroft Center

The conversation of this panel focused on strategic level issues of US engagement in the Asia-Pacific, the Asian perspective of missile defense, efforts from Congress to address this issue, and the geopolitics in the Asia-Pacific theater that affects US missile defense.

Indo-Pacific 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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