The Impossible State

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each week join the people who know the most about North Korea—The Center for Strategic and International Studies’ Victor Cha, Mike Green, and Sue Mi Terry—for an insider's discussion with host H. Andrew Schwartz about the United States’ top national security priority. Email your questions to ImpossibleState@csis.org.

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26
Countering Chinese Economic Coercion and NK’s L...
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha discusses his new Foreign Affairs essay on what the U.S. and allies should do to counter Chinese economic coercion, plus a discussion of North Korea’s latest ICBM engine test.
27 min
27
South Korea’s National Security and the Current...
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Dr. Chung Min Lee to discuss his recent report on South Korea’s national security and defense review, and the relationship between ROK-Japan, DPRK, and China under the Yoon administration.
36 min
28
Japan-Korea Relations and DPRK's ICBM Launch
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Professor Yasuyo Sakata to discuss bilateral Korea-Japan relations, trilateral U.S.-Korea-Japan cooperation and the North Korean growing threat.
34 min
29
Korea’s IRA reaction and 2022 National Defense ...
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Mr. Christian Davies to discuss the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the Korean context, North Korea's nuclear tensions, and the 2022 National Defense Strategy report on North Korea.
46 min
30
Shrimp to Whale: South Korea from the Forgotten...
Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Dr. Ramon Pacheco Pardo, professor at King's College London and KF-VUB Korea Chair at the Brussels School of Governance of Vrije Universiteit Brussel
32 min
31
VP Harris' Trip to Korea and the Current Situat...
Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Ms. Jenny Town to discuss Vice President Harris' visit to Korea on September 29th
30 min
32
Abe's Legacy on Japan-Korea Relations
Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Mr. Nicholas Szechenyi to discuss Abe's death, the implications of the Liberal Democratic Party, Japanese defense security reform under Prime Minister Kishida, as well as trilateral cooperation between the United States, Japan, and Korea.
35 min
33
Best of the ROK-US Strategic Forum 2022: Normal...
In Session 2, " Normalization of Korea-Japan Relations," of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022, speakers Dr. Choi Eunbong, Dr. Ellen Kim, Dr. Sheila Smith, Dr. Sohn Yul, and Dr. Yoon Young-kwan discussed ways to improve the bilateral relationship between South Korea and Japan.
64 min
34
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022: The ...
In Session 1, "The Biden-Yoon Summit and Korea’s Pivot to Regional Leadership," of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022, speakers Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Ma Sangyoon, Mr. Robert Rapson, Dr. Yoon Young-kwan, and Amb. Mark Lippert discussed the U.S.-Korea alliance, the potential cooperation opportunities, and North Korea issues.
60 min
35
NK Leadership and The Sister
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Dr. Sung-Yoon Lee from Tufts University to discuss the nature of North Korean leadership throughout three generations, Kim Il-sung, Kim Jong-il, and Kim Jong-un, as well as the rise of Kim Yo-jong.
35 min
36
State, Society and Markets in North Korea
In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha is joined by Dr. Andrew Yeo, senior fellow and the SK-Korea Foundation Chair in Korea Studies at the Brookings Institution's Center for East Asian Policy Studies, and professor of politics at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., for a conversation on his latest book, "State, Society and Markets in North Korea," an overview of North Korea's market history, state-market relationships, COVID-19 impacts on markets, and reflections on U.S. policy perspective.
35 min
37
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022: Keyn...
This special episode is from the 7th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum on June 6, 2022, CSIS Korea Chair's premier international forum bringing together policymakers, experts, and officials to discuss US-ROK alliance issues.
26 min
38
North Korea's Missile Threat - The Truth of the...
In a crossover episode with CSIS's The Truth of the Matter, Dr. Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz talk about what is expected to be North Korea's seventh nuclear test and its repercussions - from our recent Beyond Parallel report.
23 min
39
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2022: Welc...
This special episode is from the 7th annual ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum on June 6, 2022, CSIS Korea Chair's premier international forum bringing together policymakers, experts, and officials to discuss US-ROK alliance issues.
25 min
40
Korea-US-China Relations
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha are joined by Ellen Kim, the deputy director of the Korea Chair at CSIS, and Jonathan Cheng, China bureau chief of The Wall Street Journal, for a discussion on the relationship between the United States, China, and Korea.
31 min
41
Takeaways from the First Biden-Yoon Summit
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha are joined by Christian Davies, Seoul Correspondent for the Financial Times to discuss the Biden-Yoon summit on May 21 as well as the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, North Korea's missile and nuclear threat, and China's response to Biden's active agenda in Asia.
37 min
42
Covid-19 Outbreak in North Korea
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha are joined by J. Stephen Morrison to discuss the Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea.
25 min
43
North Korea’s Burgeoning Missile Threat
In this episode, Andrew Schwartz is joined by Victor Cha and Tom Karako to discuss the implications of the current conflict in Ukraine on North Korea's missile threat. They also discuss what it means for North Korea's capability going forward and what practical steps can be taken to accomplish denuclearization.
22 min
44
The North Korean Missile Threat: Expert Roundtable
This bonus episode is from our second Tipping Points event, The North Korean Missile Threat: Expert Roundtable. Dr. Victor Cha hosted an expert roundtable on North Korea's latest missile developments, including the current state of their ballistic missile force, and how they may have advanced their technologies so quickly.
58 min
45
2022 South Korean Presidential Election
This bonus episode is from the CSIS Korea Chair’s YouTube series, The Capital Cable. Amb. Mark Lippert, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Sue Mi Terry were joined by an expert panel of Korean and American journalists, as well as opinion polling and foreign policy experts to discuss the results of the tightly-contested 2022 South Korean presidential election.
45 min
46
Yoon Seok-yeol's Foreign Policy with Kim Sung-han
This bonus episode is from the CSIS Korea Chair’s YouTube series, The Capital Cable. Amb. Mark Lippert is joined by special guest Dr. Kim Sung-han, former vice foreign minister and foreign policy advisor to South Korean presidential candidate Yoon Seok-yeol of the People Power Party, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Sue Mi Terry of the Wilson Center for a discussion on former Prosecutor-General Yoon’s foreign policy agenda.
49 min
47
Undeclared NK Missile Base 15 Miles from China ...
Andrew Schwartz is joined by Victor Cha and Joe Bermudez to talk about the new CSIS report on the Hoejung-ni missile operating base, which is located just 15 miles from the Chinese border, and will, according to informed sources, likely house a regiment-sized unit equipped with intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
24 min
48
A Look at the South Korean Presidential Election
In this episode, Victor Cha and Andrew Schwartz are joined by Sue Mi Terry of the Wilson Center and Christian Davies of The Financial Times for a conversation on everything you need to know about the upcoming March 2022 South Korean presidential election.
38 min
49
Lee Jae-myung’s Foreign Policy with Wi Sung-lac
Amb. Mark Lippert is joined by special guest Amb. Wi Sung-lac, former vice foreign minister and foreign policy advisor to South Korean presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Sue Mi Terry of the Wilson Center for a discussion on Governor Lee’s foreign policy agenda.
43 min
50
Best of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021: Tril...
In Session 3, "Trilateralism and U.S.-ROK Alliance in Indo-Pacific Region" of the ROK-U.S. Strategic Forum 2021, speakers Andrew Yeo, Alex Wong, Kim Hyun-wook, Kim Ji-young and Victor Cha discussed U.S., Japan and South Korea trilateral relations and what it means for the Indo-Pacific region.
50 min