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.

Bill Clinton’s North Korea Gambit

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

Bill Clinton’s North Korea Gambit

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

Bill Clinton’s North Korea Gambit

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

New Atlanticist

Aug 6, 2009

Bill Clinton’s North Korea Gambit

By James Joyner

While the release of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee from a North Korean prison has universally been hailed as good news, the trip by former President Bill Clinton that made it possible has been controversial.

Korea

New Atlanticist

May 28, 2009

Jones: North Korea Nukes ‘Not an Imminent Threat’

By James Joyner

National Security Advisor Jim Jones declared in a speech to the Atlantic Council that the recent testing of a nuclear device and firing of Taepodong missiles by North Korea “are not an imminent threat” to the United States or the regions because “they have a long way to go” in perfecting the technology to weaponize […]

Korea

New Atlanticist

May 26, 2009

North Korea Tests: Why? What Now?

By James Joyner

Over what, for Americans, was a long holiday weekend, North Korea tested another nuclear device and followed that up by firing two more short-range ballistic missiles, moves sure to heighten fear among its neighbors and further isolate the regime.   The question most observers are asking is Why now?

Korea

New Atlanticist

Apr 14, 2009

North Korea and Iran Nuclear Talks on Different Path to Same Destination

By James Joyner

Efforts to stem progress in the nuclear programs of two members of the erstwhile Axis of Evil are going in decidedly different directions.  North Korea has pulled out of the Six-Party talks while negotiations with Iran appear ready to get underway.

Korea

New Atlanticist

Apr 9, 2009

Public Relations, North Korean Style

By Patrick deGategno

North Korea’s launch of a Taep’odong-2 prototype intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) over the weekend was a political success for the Kim Jong-Il regime on a series of levels. The North effectively used international law to test its missile technology, the Obama administration, and the resolve of UNSC and the other 5 members of the Six-Party […]

Korea Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Apr 8, 2009

Stopping a Nuclear North Korea and Iran

By Harlan Ullman

North Korea’s unsuccessful attempt to put a communications satellite in space last week was doubtlessly timed to throw a monkey wrench into President Barack Obama’s visit to Europe.

Korea

New Atlanticist

Apr 5, 2009

How Serious is the North Korean Threat?

By Don Snow

As long anticipated, North Korea test fired a Taepodong rocket hours ago, which President Obama termed “a threat to the northeast Asian region and to international peace and security.”  Is that really so? Don Snow published the following analysis yesterday afternoon, viewing the test prospectively.

Korea Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 26, 2009

North Korea Closer to Missile Test

By James Joyner

Yet more disturbing news on the Korean missile front: North Korea has built an underground fueling facility near a key launch pad, a news report said Thursday, making it harder for spy satellites to detect signs that a missile is being prepared for launch.

Korea Missile Defense

New Atlanticist

Feb 20, 2009

Kim Jong-il’s Successor Named

By Peter Cassata

Kim Jong-un, the 25-year-old youngest son of dictator Kim Jong-il, is the likely heir to North Korea’s police state, according to reports emerging from the Korean peninsula.

Korea
North Korea Nuclear Weapons

Report

Feb 5, 2009

Achieving peace and security in Korea and Northeast Asia: A new US diplomatic strategy toward North Korea

The Atlantic Council is pleased to release its Final Report of its three-year project on U.S. policy toward North Korea. This report makes clear that unless President Obama adopts a new strategy of seeking a comprehensive settlement in Korea, the U.S. is unlikely to eliminate North Korea’s nuclear program.D Adopting the new diplomatic strategy of […]

East Asia Korea
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Experts

Fellow

Jieun Baek

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Democratic Transitions Human Rights

Fellow

Scott D. Berrier

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Afghanistan Defense Policy

Fellow

Sungmin Cho

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

China Defense Policy

Fellow

Jonathan Corrado

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Indo-Pacific Security Initiative Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security

Indo-Pacific Korea

Fellow

Shawn Creamer

Nonresident Senior Fellow

GeoStrategy Initiative Indo-Pacific Security Initiative

Security & Defense East Asia

Fellow

Nik Foster

Nonresident Fellow

Global China Hub

China Energy & Environment
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