Session
The ROK-US Alliance: Changes, Challenges, Opportunities
Time
- 15:20 ~ 16:40
Organization
- Jeju Peace Institute, Pacific Century Institute
Room
- Yeongju A
The ROK-US alliance has been a security bedrock for both countries for decades as they faced challenges in the region. There have been changes: new presidents in both countries, a pullback from the warming relations with North Korea in 2018, continued North Korean development of nuclear weapons systems, a more confrontational relationship between the US and China; South Korea’s growing influence in the world as an ever more robust middle power. There are clear challenges: how to keep the peace; how to deal with North Korea’s nuclear weapons; how to deal with China given South Korea’s economic relationship it; how to define South Korea’s long term role in NE Asia and the world; will the US draw back from the region? What are the opportunities the changes and challenges present: US presidents can change every four years, Korean presidents every five, North Korea’s leader is likely to be in place for decades. How does each country create a multi-decade approach domestically, and then coordinate the two?