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The Korea Times

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9. Ahn Ho-young

What to make of US initiative and 'Indo-Pacific Economic Framework'?

The Chey Institute for Advanced Studies organized the first Trans-Pacific Dialogue in Northern Virginia, near Washington, D.C., Dec. 6-8. I decided to brave the 10-day post-trip quarantine on the way back in Korea to travel and participate in the dialogue, because I was very attracted by the list of participants from the U.S. and Japan, as well as the scope of the issues to be discussed at the dialogue.

2021-12-21 16:24

Can Korea and Japan survive issues of history?

Korea's Supreme Court rendered its final ruling on the case brought by victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation of Korea against Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Corp. in October, 2018. Since then, relations between Seoul and Tokyo have been in a deep freeze.

2021-11-28 16:42

What to make of North Korea's current play of 'Tong-nam-bong-mi'?

The standard North Korean tactic toward South Korea and the United States is the so-called “Tong-mi-bong-nam” strategy, which is roughly translated as “engage the U.S. and block South Korea.” In rare and exceptional circumstances, North Korea shifts that tactic and tries the reverse strategy of “Tong-nam-bong-mi.”

2021-10-28 16:54

Afghan lesson for Korea

In the past six or so weeks since the fall of Kabul, Korean news media have been abuzz with the lessons Korea must learn from the incident. They ranged from warning that U.S. troops may one day depart from Korea suddenly to suggestions that Korea must seriously consider diversifying its foreign and security policy in view of the waning power of the U.S.

2021-10-05 17:05

Afghanistan and alliance

President Joe Biden announced on April 14 that the withdrawal of U.S. forces will begin on May 1, in line with an agreement Trump's administration made with the Taliban. Since then, the Taliban began a strikingly rapid advance across the country, taking one regional capital after another, and reached the doorsteps of Kabul by Aug. 14. Next morning, it released a statement that “our forces do not want to enter Kabul through military means.”

2021-09-02 17:20

Steps for Korea's 'graduation'

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced July 4 that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) decided to classify Korea as a developed nation during its recent board meeting in Geneva.

2021-08-22 17:05

How to enhance peaceful nuclear cooperation between Korea, US

Wrapping up their summit on May 21, Presidents Moon Jae-in and Joe Biden came up with a joint statement, which contained a commitment “to develop cooperation in overseas nuclear markets, including joint participation in nuclear power plant projects.” The commitment came as a pleasant surprise to many observers in Korea and the U.S., including me.

2021-07-18 15:12

Why does Global Health Security Agenda matter for Korea?

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga visited Washington, D.C. for his meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, April 16. It was soon followed by President Moon Jae-in, who met with Biden, May 21. Because the two Asian leaders visited Washington at such a short interval, the Korean news media has been busy for some time ferreting out stories to make comparisons between the two visits.

2021-06-30 17:05

How can Korea make the best of the G7 summit?

President Moon Jae-in attended the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Cornwall, United Kingdom from June 11 to 13, 2021. The event reminds me of the two previous times Korea has participated in a G7 summit, the momentous changes that have taken place in the world since then, and the meaning of Korea's participation at the Cornwall meeting more than a decade later.

2021-06-15 17:35

Summit - step toward strategic clarity?

President Moon Jae-in visited Washington, D.C. for a summit with President Joe Biden, May 21. Moon was the second foreign leader to have a face to face meeting with Biden, only after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga of Japan. Reading through the Moon-Biden joint statement, I was pleasantly surprised with the overall tone and contents of it.

2021-06-01 17:06

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