Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Follow Carnegie
- Search
- Global Resources
Global Centers
Languages
So far, South Korea’s president has successfully engaged North Korea—but it is unlikely he can sustain this approach without delivering on domestic promises.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in allocated the bulk of his political capital to inter-Korean engagement during the first year and a half of his presidency. This strategy has paid dividends thus far. However, domestic and geopolitical forces are likely to determine his agenda’s success.
The fundamental longer-term question is, if peace and security sink deep roots on the Korean landscape, what security role the United States should assume not only on the Korean Peninsula but also toward Northeast Asia more broadly.
Cybercrime seems invisible. Attacks arrive out of nowhere, their origins hidden by layers of sophisticated technology. Only the victims are clear. But every crime has its perpetrator—specific individuals or groups sitting somewhere behind keyboards and screens.
For the moment, the declared goals of the two Koreas appear well-aligned. Yet, skeptics were quick to contend that the summit was a mere exercise in symbolism.
A half-day conference—featuring scholars and former officials from Japan, the United States, and South Korea—will examine practical denuclearization options that can enhance collective security and contribute to a more stable foundation for regional peace.
If the new inter-Korean military agreement signed by the leaders of North and South Korea is implemented, the chances of miscalculation or accident escalating to war will subside. However, there a serious challenge to bolster progress towards stable peace on the peninsula.
What might a realistic approach to one of the most complex and delicate nuclear negotiations ever attempted look like? Here’s why the United States and North Korea must tread carefully to resolve their impasse.
Further mitigating the risk of a local incident escalating out of control should continue to be a high priority for North and South Korea as well as for the United States.
Chinese observers generally view the Singapore summit as a positive step toward denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. However, many have come to question the success of the summit and whether the positive momentum that resulted from it is markedly slowing down.
Stay connected to the Global Think Tank with Carnegie's smartphone app for Android and iOS devices