Eye on Korea

South Korea wants nuclear-powered submarines, enrichment capabilities, and a bigger role in the global nuclear energy market. But the terms of its nuclear relationship with the United States are not built to support these goals. Toby Dalton, Senior Fellow and Co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, breaks down the nuclear policy questions at the center of the U.S.-Korea relationship with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder.  They explore why Seoul sees a revised agreement as key to advancing its civilian nuclear program, and whether reviving the long-dormant bilateral commission between the two countries can help close the gap on nuclear capabilities. On enrichment, Dalton walks through the question of whether it must happen on Korean soil, what ownership models might be on the table, and why the enrichment market could look completely different in just a few years. The conversation turns to reprocessing, a lane where U.S.-Korea cooperation looks more promising and Washington is more receptive, before tackling private sector disputes that continue to prevent deeper partnership. Dalton also explains why separating nuclear-powered submarine construction from civilian nuclear objectives may pose unique challenges, why the Philadelphia shipyard is likely not a contender for where Korea's submarine gets built, and what nuclear latency means for the future of the alliance.
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Trump has demanded allies like South Korea help secure the Strait of Hormuz, but what does the broader conflict with Iran mean for deterrence on the Korean Peninsula? And as assets like THAAD shift to the Middle East, how should Seoul and Washington rethink contingency planning?
Jeonghun Min, professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA), describes the ripple effects of U.S. Middle East policy on the U.S.-South Korea alliance. Together with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder, topics include: — What happens to alliance readiness when U.S. assets like THAAD get pulled to the Middle East— Why growing nuclear and naval capabilities in South Korea can multiply U.S. force projection— Why nuclear submarine acquisition and uranium enrichment are fundamentally different issues— Balancing alliance modernization with non-proliferation commitments— The Taiwan contingency question and why it's a sensitive issue for Seoul— The gap between how Washington and Seoul perceive the China threat
Dr. Jeonghun Min is a professor at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy (KNDA). He is interested in conducting research on ROK-US relations, North Korea-US relations, US-China strategic competition, and American Politics. After joining the KNDA, he has published many policy papers on the diplomatic and security situations on the Korean Peninsula and East Asia. He has been working as a policy adviser for the Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Unification of Republic of Korea. Dr. Min received his Ph.D. in political science from the University of Georgia.
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi is heading to Washington with strong domestic support. What does she want, what can she get, and what does it mean for the U.S.-South Korea alliance?
Mireya Solís, Director of the Center for Asia Policy Studies and Philip Knight Chair in Japan Studies at the Brookings Institution, joins Eye on Korea to break down the upcoming U.S.-Japan summit and its ripple effects across the Indo-Pacific. 
We cover topics such as what Takaichi is hoping to accomplish in Washington, the state of U.S.-Japan trade after the Supreme Court ruling on IEEPA, Shinzo Abe's lasting legacy on Japanese foreign and economic policy, how Washington and Tokyo view the Iran war, China's grip on critical minerals and Japan's strategy to navigate it, and the future of U.S.-South Korea-Japan trilateral cooperation on security and economics.
Dr. Solís is the author of "Japan's Quiet Leadership: Reshaping the Indo-Pacific," named one of Foreign Affairs' Best Books of 2024.
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Mary E. Lovely, Anthony M. Solomon Senior Fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, joins KEI for a deep dive into the U.S.-China trade and investment relationship at a moment of extraordinary geopolitical uncertainty. Lovely breaks down the state of play on tariffs and examines what the Donald Trump administration is aiming to achieve in its economic confrontation with Beijing. She explains how Chinese export controls on rare earth minerals may be squeezing U.S. allies such as South Korea, why American small businesses are bearing disproportionate costs from decoupling, and what the Joe Biden administration's "de-risking" and friendshoring strategies have tangibly delivered.  The conversation highlights how the United States can leverage its advanced technology in future trade talks with China, the multifaceted nature of U.S.-China competition, and why globally coordinated action is needed to address Chinese overproduction. Lovely also makes the case for why South Korea should be front and center in any U.S. strategy to de-risk from China, assesses the sustainability of the $350 billion U.S.-Korea investment deal, and underscores why the U.S. government needs buy-in from allies and partners to achieve its economic security goals.
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Social Links:Website: https://keia.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]

Jonathan Hillman, Senior Fellow for Geoeconomics at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins KEI for a wide-ranging conversation on the frontlines of U.S.-China economic competition. Hillman examines where China is pulling ahead—particularly in quantum communications and data centers — and what that means for the future of AI and technological leadership. He breaks down the opportunities and risks for allies like South Korea across critical technology areas, including AI, quantum computing, and advanced biotech manufacturing, explaining why Korea's semiconductor ecosystem is uniquely positioned to play a decisive role. The conversation also explores the enormous potential for U.S.-Korea private sector investment, how to mobilize that capital effectively, and the evolution of economic security tools like export controls and their continued relevance in 2026. Hillman also weighs in on the challenges and advantages of supply chain reshoring and offers his read on what may unfold at a potential U.S.-China summit this year.
You can find the full report here: https://www.cfr.org/task-force-reports/us-economic-security !
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Dr. Ellen Kim discusses her new coauthored book, “China's Weaponization of Trade: Resistance Through Collective Resilience,” which tracks hundreds of cases where China has used its economic power to punish or pressure other countries and companies. Ellen Kim is the Director of Academic Affairs at KEI. Previously, she was deputy director and senior fellow with the Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). Ellen reveals a surprising finding: the United States and its allies have more leverage over China than most people realize—especially when it comes to critical minerals like nickel that China desperately needs. The book explains how China's approach to economic pressure is fundamentally different from tools the United States often uses, like sanctions, and puts forth a strategy called "collective resilience,” drawing from NATO's "attack on one is an attack on all" principle, but applied to trade and economics. Ellen also discusses "predatory liberalism," a phenomenon where countries using trade as a weapon encourages others to do the same, while smaller nations stay quiet to avoid becoming targets. The conversation tackles critical questions for the United States, but also for South Korea, Australia, and other middle powers. Specifically, how does a mid-sized economy protect itself when caught between the United States and China? Ellen explores the Lee Jae Myung administration's efforts to reduce Korea's economic vulnerabilities and the unique challenges Korea faces as competition between Washington and Beijing intensifies. About the Book: China's Weaponization of Trade provides the most detailed analysis yet of how China uses economic coercion, identifies where targeted countries actually have bargaining power, and offers practical strategies for how democracies can defend themselves in an era where trade has become a weapon. You can order a copy from Columbia University Press here: https://cup.columbia.edu/book/chinas-weaponization-of-trade/9780231564205/ 
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

As artificial intelligence drives unprecedented electricity demand, the United States and South Korea are exploring a new strategic frontier: nuclear energy cooperation. Dr. Yongsoo Hwang, Distinguished Professor for Special Affairs at the KEPCO International Nuclear Graduate School, joins Eye on Korea to explain how South Korea’s proven record of delivering nuclear projects on time and on cost, through KHNP, Doosan Enerbility, and other private sector players, coupled with deep expertise in engineering, procurement, construction, and management, positions it as a compelling partner in America’s push to scale reliable baseload power for the AI era. 
Together with KEI President & CEO Scott Snyder, Dr. Hwang unpacks the technical and commercial unknowns still separating U.S. and Korean reactor pathways, including AP1000 versus AP1400 deployment, private-sector decision-making, supply chain constraints, and timelines beyond 2026. The conversation also explores South Korea’s European track record as a benchmark for U.S. market prospects, public opinion shifts driven by cost realities and NIMBY constraints, nuclear safety and waste challenges, enrichment and reprocessing debates, the growing discussion around nuclear latency, and more. The TL;DR? The U.S. and Korea can deliver secure, scalable power for the AI economy with nuclear energy. 
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Bruce Klingner, Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation, unpacks why the U.S.-South Korea alliance feels simultaneously more stable than many predicted and more uncertain than it appears. Describing the relationship as a “Schrödinger’s alliance,” Bruce explores how turbulence, misperceptions, and competing strategic impulses in Washington and Seoul are shaping alliance politics. He examines the different factions within the Trump administration pulling policy in opposing directions, touches on the implications of the Maduro capture for alliance optics, the sharp contrasts between President Trump’s first and second National Security Strategies, the unresolved questions surrounding South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines, and more.
Bruce Klingner is a Senior Fellow at the Mansfield Foundation and a leading analyst on North Korea, deterrence, and U.S.-Korea alliance dynamics, with decades of experience examining security challenges on the Korean Peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific.
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[KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]
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Eye on Korea is distributed under a CC BY-SA 4.0 License, which can be found at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

Troy Stangarone, Non-Resident Fellow at the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology, joins KEI President and CEO Scott Snyder to discuss the Trump administration’s tariff framework and how it's reshaping the U.S.-South Korea economic relationship.
The conversation examines the shift away from the KORUS Free Trade Agreement toward sector-specific tariffs and how this change is influencing Korea’s trade and investment strategy. Troy analyzes the implications for automobiles, electric vehicles, semiconductors, steel, and shipbuilding, and discusses how Korean firms are navigating heightened uncertainty while working to remain competitive in the U.S. market.
The discussion also looks at Korea’s efforts to diversify its global trade partnerships, rising competitive pressure from China—particularly in electric vehicles and critical technologies—and the role of new U.S.–Korea investment mechanisms outlined in recent memoranda of understanding. The episode concludes with a deeper look at shipbuilding cooperation, workforce constraints, and the long-term challenge of rebuilding U.S. industrial capacity.
 
Troy Stangarone is a non-resident fellow with the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology. Previously he was the Director of the Hyundai Motor-Korea Foundation Center for Korean History and Public Policy and the Deputy Director of the Indo-Pacific Program at the Wilson Center. Mr. Stangarone specializes in economic and foreign policy relations on the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific region.
 

In this episode of Eye on Korea, Jeannette Chu describes the evolution of U.S. export controls, from multilateral coordination to today’s more unilateral “small yard, high fence” approach. These shifts fit into a broader national security strategy, she argues, and have important implications for Korea’s role as a leading innovation partner in semiconductors, AI, and advanced manufacturing. The conversation also looks at the White House’s AI Action Plan and where U.S. policy is heading next. Jeannette discusses why the traditional separation between security and economics is becoming less relevant for understanding South Korea’s foreign-policy priorities. The discussion also explores the Supreme Court case surrounding IEEPA tariff authorities, the trade and economic priorities shaping Trump’s 2025 agenda, and the biggest trade and technology issues to watch as we head into 2026.  Jeannette L. Chu is Vice President for National Security Policy at the National Foreign Trade Council, where she leads the Council’s work on export controls, sanctions, and national security regulatory policy. A former Senior Managing Director at PwC and Senior Policy Advisor at the Bureau of Industry and Security, she served nearly six years in China as the Senior Export Control Attache at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing and Consulate General in Guangzhou. She is also a Non-Resident Senior Associate with the Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics at CSIS.
Like and subscribe to the Korea Economic Institute of America on YouTube for more U.S.-South Korea news, analysis, politics and more! Social Links:Website: https://keia.org/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/korea-economic-institute-of-america/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KoreaEconInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koreaeconinst/Twitter/X: https://x.com/koreaeconinst [KEI is registered under the FARA as an agent of the KIEP, a public corporation established by the government of the Republic of Korea. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]