The Impossible State

4.5 (86)
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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 H. Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha about one of the United States’ top national security priorities. Email your questions to ImpossibleState@csis.org.

5D AGO

Special Conversation with Senator Andy Kim

Join us for a bonus episode of the Impossible State Live podcast, recorded during the Looking Forward: The Future of United States–Japan–Korea Trilateral Relations event on June 18, 2025. Senator Andy Kim engaged in a conversation with Victor Cha to discuss the key challenges and opportunities across various sectors that will shape the future of trilateral relations among U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific.

33 min
JUN 24

Getting Started: The New Lee Jae-myung Government

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Jake Kwon, and Mr. Wonchul Kim discussed recent political developments under President Lee’s administration, outcomes of the G7 Summit, and the future direction of U.S.–ROK and U.S.–ROK–Japan relations.

35 min
JUN 9

South Korea's New President

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Pacheco Pardo, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed South Korea’s new president, the foreign policy challenges facing the incoming administration, and the implications of the election for U.S.–ROK relations and the broader Indo-Pacific region.

44 min
MAY 30

What Are U.S. and NATO Views on China?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Ms. Henrietta Levin, and Dr. Luis Simón discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward China, U.S.–China trade relations, the future of U.S. and NATO engagement with China, and more.

41 min
MAY 6

Is Trump ready to Re-engage with North Korea?

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Mr. Sydney Seiler, and Ms. Yuki Tatsumi discussed the Trump administration’s policy toward North Korea, the possibility of a second Trump–Kim summit, its future direction in relation to the United States, South Korea, and Japan, and more.

38 min
APR 21

Korea, Japan, and the Tariff War

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Kristi Govella, and Mr. William Reinsch discussed the tariff war, its potential impact on Korea, Japan, and other countries around the world, and more.

39 min
APR 11

The Future of U.S.-ROK-Japan Trilateral Cooperation

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Michael Green discussed U.S.-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, the Trump administration’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific, and more.

34 min
APR 7

The Constitutional Court Decides Yoon's Fate

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Yoojin Kim, Andrew Yeo, and Darcie Draudt-Véjares discussed the analysis of the Constitutional Court's unanimous decision on President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment.

47 min

See All (136)

4.5

out of 5

86 Ratings

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!
Talking about things that they have NO idea!!!

08/29/2019

book bear 2000

I mean this is THE WORST stuffs EVER!!! Don't waste time to listen this junk!

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each episode, join the people who know the most about North Korea for an insiders’ discussion with host H. Andrew Schwartz and Victor Cha about one of the United States’ top national security priorities. Email your questions to ImpossibleState@csis.org.