The Impossible State

4.5 (88)
GOVERNMENT
UPDATED WEEKLY

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each episode, join the people who know the most about North Korea for an insiders’ discussion with host Victor Cha about one of the United States’ top national security priorities.

DEC 9

Is North Korean Denuclearization Dead?

On this episode, Dr. Victor Cha moderates a discussion with Amb. Cho Byung Jae and Dr. Jun Bong-geun on North Korea’s nuclear program and the future of diplomacy. The episode explores Pyongyang’s constitutional embrace of nuclear weapons, Seoul’s E.N.D. initiative to revive dialogue, and President Trump’s push for summitry.

45 min
NOV 24

What Does China Want?

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Zenobia Chan, and Ms. Henrietta Levin discussed whether China is a status quo power with limited global aims, or a revisionist state with goals of expanding power and reshaping the global international order, and more.

38 min
NOV 14

South Korea’s Nuclear Submarine Deal: What’s Next?

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Kang Choi, and Dr. Beomchul Shin discussed the outcomes of the APEC meetings, South Korea’s nuclear submarine deal with the United States, and potential next steps.

38 min
OCT 22

Upcoming U.S.-ROK Summit and the Future of Inter-Korean Engagement

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Andrew Yeo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed the future of inter-Korean engagement, the upcoming APEC meetings, and the upcoming summit meeting between Presidents Trump and Lee.

39 min
OCT 15

What to Expect? New Leadership in Japan

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. James Brady, and Mr. Tobias Harris discussed the newly elected leader of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Sanae Takaichi—who is likely to become the next prime minister following a parliamentary vote in mid-October—as well as trilateral relations among the United States, the Republic of Korea, and Japan, foreign policy views, and more.

42 min
OCT 6

President Lee's First 100 Days

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Jeonghun Min, and Dr. Hanbeom Jeong discussed President Lee’s first 100 days in office, the implications of his foreign policies for extended deterrence, U.S.–ROK and U.S.–North Korea engagement, and more.

43 min
SEP 29

Trump and the Autocratic Axis

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Patricia Kim, and Dr. Thomas Wright discussed the growing cooperation among the autocratic countries of China, Russia, and North Korea as they push back against U.S. influence and the U.S.-led international order; the strategies the United States might leverage to counter this bloc; the implications for U.S. policy and its allies; and more.

45 min
SEP 15

Is China Eating Our Lunch?

Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Ely Ratner, and Mr. Scott Snyder discussed two of China’s major diplomatic events—the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit and the Victory Day Parade—as well as the Xi-Putin-Kim meeting, Kim Ju Ae's international debut, the growing alignment of hostile actors, and what all these developments mean for the Korean Peninsula, the U.S. and its allies, and more.

36 min

See All (147)

4.5

out of 5

88 Ratings

Excellent

Dec 12

Joshua Xi

Excellent and very topical podcast, which analyzes policy and current events from a variety of different perspectives. While on the whole very good, there are a few guests, like Zenobia Chan from Georgetown, who will actively parrot CCP propaganda without irony.
Very, Very Good

07/18/2024

RJG179

This show excels at covering the Korean Peninsula and the sphere relevant to it. Indispensable information and analysis; just top notch.
Burgeoning Missile Crisis

05/05/2022

jrogercamp

Thanks for the timely and valuable insights!
Excellent

08/19/2018

Johnny GreenLine

Best of all the CSIS podcasts!

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each episode, join the people who know the most about North Korea for an insiders’ discussion with host Victor Cha about one of the United States’ top national security priorities.