The Impossible State

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderated a discussion with Dr. Jinaeng Choi and Timothy Martin to discuss the recent BTS comeback concert, how Korean culture around the world can impact Korea's soft power, how it may influence global audiences, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderated a discussion with Dr. Tom Wright and Dr. Kristi Govella on examining Washington’s failed pivot to Asia, expectations for Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi’s visit to Washington, and its potential impact on the Korean Peninsula, the Indo-Pacific region, and broader regional dynamics.

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler moderated a discussion with Stanford University Professor Gi-Wook Shin on his recent book, The Four Talent Giants, and how these four “talent giants” countries achieved economic power and sustained momentum by responding to risks and challenges such as demographic crises, brain drain, and geopolitical tensions, drawing on his Four Bs theory—brain train, brain gain, brain circulation, and brain linkage—to explain national strength and success.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderated a discussion with Adam Farrar and Igor Khrestin on the recent Coupang investigation, the key elements of Trump’s National Defense Strategy, what that means for South Korea and for any future response to North Korean threats, and more.

Sydney Seiler, Dr. Patrick Cronin, Rachel Minyoung Lee, and Markus Garlauskas discussed North Korea's direction in 2026 and what to expect from Kim Jong Un in terms of the diplomatic front with Moscow, Beijing, the ROK, the U.S., and more.

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler moderated a discussion with Dr. Chansong Lee and Dr. Bee Yun Jo of the Sejong Institute on the overall outlook of the U.S.–South Korea alliance leading up to 2026, including extended deterrence, the Nuclear Consultative Group, the OPCON transfer, shipbuilding, and other strategic issues.

On this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderates a discussion with Amb. Cho Byung Jae and Dr. Jun Bong-geun on North Korea’s nuclear program and the future of diplomacy. The episode explores Pyongyang’s constitutional embrace of nuclear weapons, Seoul’s E.N.D. initiative to revive dialogue, and President Trump’s push for summitry.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Zenobia Chan, and Ms. Henrietta Levin discussed whether China is a status quo power with limited global aims, or a revisionist state with goals of expanding power and reshaping the global international order, and more.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Kang Choi, and Dr. Beomchul Shin discussed the outcomes of the APEC meetings, South Korea’s nuclear submarine deal with the United States, and potential next steps.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Andrew Yeo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed the future of inter-Korean engagement, the upcoming APEC meetings, and the upcoming summit meeting between Presidents Trump and Lee.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. James Brady, and Mr. Tobias Harris discussed the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sanae Takaichi—who is likely to become the next prime minister following a parliamentary vote in mid-October—as well as trilateral relations among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, foreign policy views, and more.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Jeonghun Min, and Dr. Hanbeom Jeong discussed President Lee’s first 100 days in office, the implications of his foreign policies for extended deterrence, U.S.–ROK and U.S.–North Korea engagement, and more.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Patricia Kim, and Dr. Thomas Wright discussed the growing cooperation among the autocratic countries of China, Russia, and North Korea as they push back against U.S. influence and the U.S.-led international order; the strategies the United States might leverage to counter this bloc; the implications for U.S. policy and its allies; and more.

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Ely Ratner, and Mr. Scott Snyder discussed two of China’s major diplomatic events—the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and the Victory Day Parade—as well as the Xi-Putin-Kim meeting, Kim Ju Ae's international debut, the growing alignment of hostile actors, and what all these developments mean for the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. and its allies, and more.

This episode is a special crossover with our CSIS sister podcast, State of Play. After a busy month of U.S. diplomacy, Victor Cha and Max Bergmann join Will to discuss what East Asian and European allies are learning about summits with President Trump and what patterns are emerging about how President Trump engages with autocrats. "⁠Statesmen’s Forum: His Excellency Lee Jae Myung, President of the Republic of Korea⁠" CSIS, August 25, 2025. "⁠Max and Maria on the Alaska and White House Peace Summits⁠" Russian Roulette, CSIS, August 21, 2025. Listen to CSIS Podcast State of Play at https://www.csis.org/podcasts/state-play

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Yoojin Kim, Dr. Philip Luck, and Mr. Bill Reinsch discussed the implications of this major trade development, including its impact on U.S.–South Korea economic ties; the outlook for allied investment in critical sectors such as semiconductors, automobiles, steel, and shipbuilding; and the broader geopolitical dynamics shaping the deal.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed prospects for a U.S.-South Korea trade deal before the end of the August 1 pause on 25 percent tariffs on all goods from Korea, and ways to modernize the 72-year old alliance under the new Lee Jae Myung and Donald Trump administrations, and more.

Join us for a bonus episode of the Impossible State Live podcast, recorded during the Looking Forward: The Future of United States–Japan–Korea Trilateral Relations event on June 18, 2025. Senator Andy Kim engaged in a conversation with Victor Cha to discuss the key challenges and opportunities across various sectors that will shape the future of trilateral relations among U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Jake Kwon, and Mr. Wonchul Kim discussed recent political developments under President Lee’s administration, outcomes of the G7 Summit, and the future direction of U.S.–ROK and U.S.–ROK–Japan relations.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Pacheco Pardo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed South Korea’s new president, the foreign policy challenges facing the incoming administration, and the implications of the election for U.S.–ROK relations and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Henrietta Levin, and Dr. Luis Simón discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward China, U.S.–China trade relations, the future of U.S. and NATO engagement with China, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Sydney Seiler, and Ms. Yuki Tatsumi discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward North Korea, the possibility of a second Trump–Kim summit, its future direction in relation to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Kristi Govella, and Mr. William Reinsch discussed the tariff war, its potential impact on Korea, Japan, and other countries around the world, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Michael Green discussed U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, the Trump administration’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Yoojin Kim, Andrew Yeo, and Darcie Draudt-Véjares discussed the analysis of the Constitutional Court's unanimous decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Hyo-young Lee discussed Korea’s economic security issues, supply chain challenges, the future of U.S.-ROK economic cooperation under the new Trump administration, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Yoojin Kim, and Mr. Eunjoong Kim discussed South Korea's ongoing political crisis, the future direction of President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment, the possibility of a new South Korean government, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ambassador Kathleen Stephens, and Dr. Kang Choi discussed how South Korea's current political crisis will impact its foreign policy and its relations with the United States, its neighbors, and more.

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler and Dr. Seth Jones discussed North Korea and Russia's cooperation for the war in Ukraine, North Korea's deployment of soldiers to support Russia, the Trump Administration's policy to weaken North Korea-Russia cooperation, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Ellen Kim and Mr. Sydney Seiler discuss the DPRK's recent and anticipated actions, the potential for exploitation of ROK political developments, US policy toward the North under a second Trump administration, and more.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Darcie Draudt-Véjares, and Mr. Bruce Klingner discuss the current political situation in South Korea. Topics will include updates on President Yoon's martial law, his impeachment, what's next for the Korean peninsula and US-ROK alliance, and more.

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler and Secretary General Yongho Tae discuss the latest developments in North Korea. Topics will include updates on North Korean human rights issues, South Korea's policy toward North Korea, and the current situation in North Korea.

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.

This bonus episode is from the JoongAng - CSIS Forum 2024: The Polycrisis in 2024 on March 3, 2024. Dr. Mira Rapp-Hooper, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Indo-Pacific Affairs, White House National Security Council had a conversation with Victor Cha, Senior Vice President for Asia, CSIS to discuss Biden Administration’s North Korea Policy.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Sung-han Kim, Former ROK National Security Advisor and Professor at the Graduate School of International Studies at Korea University, to discuss North Korea's current situation and recent developments as well as what to expect from North Korea in 2024.

In this episode, Dr. Ellen Kim is joined by Dr. Victor Cha to discuss the Korea Chair's latest publication, Slow Boil: What to Expect from the DPRK in 2024, the likelihood of increased North Korean belligerence in 2024 and how it ties to the upcoming U.S. election.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. James Brady to discuss the recent earthquake, the political fundraising scandal, and speculation regarding Japan-DPRK relations in 2024.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Mr. Scott Snyder to discuss the upcoming external and internal pressures on the U.S.-South Korea alliance and what a second Trump Administration would mean for the Korean peninsula.

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Ms. Yuki Tatsumi to explore Japan's foreign policy outlook for the upcoming year.