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Military Denuclearization
Assessing Arms Control: An Analysis and Comparison of Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Policies
Key Takeaways:- In an era of intensifying conflict, rising military spending, and eroding trust, arms control remains not an idealistic relic but a strategic tool for managing rivalry and preventing unintended escalation. - Distinguishing clearly between arms control, disarmament, non-proliferation, and counter-proliferation is essential,
By DongJoon Park [Associate Research Fellow/Director of Research, Jeju Peace Institute (JPI)]
APEC 2025
The Rorschach Alliance
Key Takeaways:- South Korea emerged from the APEC summit with comparatively favorable trade and security agreements, including tariff relief and long-sought U.S. assent on nuclear-powered submarines and fuel-cycle capabilities. - Yet these gains rest on fragile foundations, as implementation remains legally, politically, and strategically
By Mason Richey [Professor of international politics, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies]
Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization (E.N.D.) initiative
Leaving Too Much to Chance
Key Takeaways:- President Lee’s E.N.D. policy repackages familiar progressive sequencing—exchange, normalization, then denuclearization—but does little to reflect how fundamentally North Korea’s posture has changed since 2019. - Pyongyang no longer accepts denuclearization as a negotiating horizon and has redefined inter-Korean re
By Jenny Town [Senior Fellow and 38 North Director, Stimson Center]
APEC 2025
ROK-China Relations after 2025 Gyeongju APEC
Key Takeaways:- Historical Context and Current Status: After evolving through periods of development and conflict triggered by the 2016 THAAD controversy, South Korea and China are currently attempting to cautiously re-establish relations despite the complexities of intensifying U.S.-China strategic competition. - Structural Challenges: The re
By Hankwon Kim [Professor, Korea National Diplomatic Academy]
Implications of ROK Nuclear Submarine Acquisition
AUKUS versus ROKUS: lessons for South Korea from Australia’s experience
Key Takeaways:- Integration over Autonomy: While South Korea views acquiring nuclear-propelled submarines (SSNs) as a path to strategic autonomy, the U.S. intends to use the deal to deepen industrial integration and leverage Korean shipbuilding capacity to support the American defense base, mirroring the AUKUS model. - Expanding Regional Secur
By Tom Corben [Research Fellow, United States Studies Centre]

TOPICS

Military Denuclearization
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Implications of ROK Nuclear Submarine Acquisition
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Cybersecurity
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ROK–U.S. Relations
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Sanction Regime
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Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization (E.N.D.) initiative
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Latest Articles

Transnational Criminal Networks and National Security
The Synthetic Opioid Crisis and South Korea in the Era of US-China Strategic Competition
Key Takeaways:- Geopolitics of Fentanyl: In 2025, the Trump administration elevated the opioid crisis to a top-tier national security issue, successfu
Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization (E.N.D.) initiative
A Window of Opportunity? How Trump Can Succeed by Meeting Kim Jong Un in 2026
Key Takeaways:- Trump’s potential 2026 meeting with Kim Jong Un—either en route from Beijing in April or at the Shenzhen APEC Summit—could reope
APEC 2025
The Unexpected Strong Start of the Takaichi Administration
Key Takeaways:-Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has defied early expectations by delivering a highly successful diplomatic debut and securing one of the
Cybersecurity
Zero Trust Adoption in U.S. National Cybersecurity Strategy and Its Strategic Implications
Key Takeaways:- AI-driven technologies—such as generative AI, automated attacks, deepfakes, and drone–autonomous weapon integration—are rapidl
Cybersecurity
AI-Cyber Threats: Challenges, Issues, and Governance
Key Takeaways:- The convergence of AI and cyber domains requires security professionals and policymakers to address both traditional cyber risks and n
ROK–U.S. Relations
President Trump’s Reframing of the U.S.–South Korea Alliance: Alliance or Reliance?
Key takeaways:- This distinction matters because burden-shifting implies withdrawal, while responsibility-sharing implies empowerment and inclusion.-

About KOP

Korea On Point by the Korean Association of
International Studies

Korea On Point by the Korean Association of International Studies aims to provide an open forum for debates on the most pressing issues that affect the Korean Peninsula. Each week, the editorial board invites a select group of experts from around the world to contribute their views and analyses. Korea On Point does not advocate particular views, beliefs, or ideologies; rather, it strives to publish balanced and incisive commentaries that lay bare key points of agreement as well as differences among relevant actors. Ultimately, Korea On Point aims to further stimulate discussions in the international community that lead to consensus and dialogue.

*The opinions expressed by our invited authors do not represent the official positions of Korea On Point or the Korean Association of International Studies.

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