Korea

Intro: The US alliance with the Republic of Korea (ROK or South Korea) is an essential element in the maintenance of peace and stability on the Peninsula and in the region in general. Yet that alliance has undergone—and continues to experience—significant strains. It is currently being transformed in important ways, and the Program will continue to pay attention to how that transformation moves forward, seeking to illuminate in what ways the changes under way can strengthen both bilateral relations and regional stability, and in what ways it might have the opposite effect. A central issue in Washington’s regional policy and in US-ROK relations is the nuclear program of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK or North Korea) and related aspects of policy toward the North. Differences between Washington and Seoul have importantly—and negatively—affected mutual trust and cooperation between the alliance partners over the past several years. Some of the harm may already be irreversible. Unchecked, further harm could seriously damage our individual and common interests; brought back into harmony, policy toward North Korea could become a positive force in US-ROK relations. In the meantime, the dangers presented by the DPRK’s nuclear program must be addressed effectively, first and foremost by the United States. As 2007 begins, that seems more possible than at any time since 2001. The Program will continue to engage deeply on these issues.

Analyses and Commentaries

• Alan Romberg's article on CNN website, "U.S. and South Korea Navies Send a Message" (November 29, 2010)
• Alan Romberg's presentation at the 6th Hankyoreh-Busan International Symposium in Busan, Korea (November 18, 2010)
• Alan D. Romberg discusses the North Korean nuclear test in his new Spotlight (May 25, 2009). Click here for full text.
• Alan D. Romberg discusses the latest developments in Six-Party Talks at a Conference on the Impact of Deteriorating North-South Relations on Six-Party Process sponsored by USKI, CSIS,  and USIP (April 16, 2009). Click here for the text of the remarks.
• Alan D. Romberg assesses the October 2007 Six-Party Agreement and North-South Summit in "Six-Party Agreement and the North-South Summit: An Opening for Korea?" This appeared as a Stimson spotlight piece (October 5, 2007)
• "U.S. Strategic Interests in Northeast Asia: 2009 and Beyond": based on a paper Alan D. Romberg presented at the Korea Research Institute for Strategy conference (July 2007)
• Alan D. Romberg discusses the implications of the agreement during the most recent Six-Party Talks in "Negotiating with North Korea: Bridging the Differences Among the Key Parties" (February 2007).
• Alan D. Romberg reflects on the role of the United States in Northeast Asia in "The Role of the United States in Northeast Asia in the Wake of the North Korean Nuclear Test" at the Asia Foundation (December 4, 2006).
• The Stimson Center and Carnegie Endowment for International Peace co-organized a discussion forum "Next Steps on North Korea: Options Beyond Sanctions" at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (October 12, 2006)
• Alan D. Romberg contributed an article "Permanent Peace on the Korean Peninsula: Quixotic Quest or Source of Stability?" in Korea and World Affairs vol. 30, no. 3 (Fall 2006 Issue).
• Alan D. Romberg discusses his interest in Korea and views on US-Korea relationswith Ohmy News in "A U.S. Voice of Reason for Korea."
• Alan D. Romberg discusses US policy toward the Six-Party Talks in "Maintaining Momentum witih North Korea" in PacNet Newsletter #39 (September 8, 2005)
• The Six-Party Talks, Round II: In Search of An American Strategy- Alan D. Romberg in the Asia Times Online (February 24, 2004)
• Alan D. Romberg participated in a research effort initiated by the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security (IFANS) of the Republic of Korea, contributing "The US-PRC-ROK Triangle: Managing the Future" to the IFANS publication Coping with Korea's Security Challenges Vol. 2: future of ROK-US Alliance (the publication published in January 2004).
• Resolving the North Korean Nuclear Issue and Bringing Peace to the Peninsula: An Appraisal of US Strategy -A conference paper by Alan Romberg (presented November 17-18, 2003)
• Interview with Alan Romberg on the Six-Way Talks with North Korea - Bernard Gwertzman, Council on Foreign Relations (August 6, 2003)
• Dealing with North Korea: The Key Foreign Policy and Security Challenge for the US-ROK Alliance - Stimson web brief by Alan D. Romberg (June 18, 2003)
• The North Korea Nuclear Crisis: A Strategy for Negotiations - Alan D. Romberg and Michael Swaine in Arms Control Today (May 2003)
• Interviewwith AlanRomberg on Developments in North Korea - Bernard Gwertzman, Council on Foreign Relations (April 24, 2003)
• North Korean Threat Spirals Toward Disaster - Alan D. Romberg and Michael Swaine in the International Herald Tribune (March 27, 2003)

Complete Analyses and Commentaries for the East Asia Program