Country
South Korea
South Korea’s Ruling People Power Party Gears Up for Change Ahead of the 2024 General Election
By Eunwoo Lee
A major by-election defeat provided a wake-up call, yet intra-party rifts are hard to wish away.
Japan-South Korea Cooperation Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict Proves Benefits of Trilateral With US
By Evan Wright and Jessica A. Guarini
Coordination on evacuations of their citizens from the Middle East is a seemingly small but symbolically significant step for Tokyo and Seoul.
North Korea’s Nuclear Buildup Means Mutually Assured Destruction, Not Coercion
By Denny Roy
North Koreans have reasons to believe a large and highly survivable nuclear arsenal is necessary to deter the United States from attacking their country.
South Korea’s Quest to Become a Global Pivotal State
By Kuyoun Chung
Restoring relationships, especially with countries in the Indo-Pacific region, is a crucial element in achieving Yoon’s vision of a global pivotal state.
This Week in Asia: November 3, 2023
The Diplomat’s weekly video round-up of Asia news.
The Paradox of South Korea’s Presidential Approval Rating
By Hyeonjong Min
Despite persistently high approval ratings, former President Moon did not pursue major reforms. President Yoon, with low numbers, is promising to do just that.
1 Year After Itaewon Crowd Crush, Victims’ Families Demand a Special Investigation
By Hyung-Jin Kim
No top-level officials have been held accountable for the crowd crush that killed 159 people during Halloween celebrations.
How Do South Koreans View Gender Discrimination?
By Timothy S. Rich, Serena White, and Josie Coyle
The topic was a focal point of the 2022 presidential campaign. What do South Koreans think of the issue now, especially under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration?
Can Yoon Suk-yeol Break South Korea’s Decades-Old Political Curse?
By Jason Morgan and Kenji Yoshida
Will the prosecutor-turned-president resist the temptation to target his predecessor with legal investigations in a bid to shore up his political base?
Where Does South Korea Stand on the Israel-Hamas Conflict?
By Kayla Orta
Seoul is urging the swift and peaceful resolution of the conflict, fearing regional and global spillovers. But the Yoon government is also careful not to take sides.
Australia Should Support Japan and South Korea’s Accession Into AUKUS
By Corey Lee Bell
The U.K. and the U.S. are showing increasing interest in bringing the Northeast Asian powers into the AUKUS fold. Why is Australia so hesitant?
US Aircraft Carrier Arrives in South Korea as North’s Leader Kim Exchanges Messages With Putin
By Hyung-jin Kim
The USS Ronald Reagan and its battle group came to the southeastern South Korean port of Busan after participating in a trilateral South Korean-U.S.-Japanese maritime exercise.