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Alliance Modernization
Washington's Flexibility, Seoul's Vulnerability: The Alliance Modernization Paradox
Key Takeaways:- The modernization of the ROK-U.S. alliance under Trump 2.0 reflects Washington’s strategic shift toward deterring China's militay expansions, but this shift exposes Seoul to greater vulnerability amid an intensifying North Korean nuclear threat.- South Korea can cooperate on defense spending increases, cost-sharing, and OPCON tran
By Kyung Suk Lee [Incheon National University]
Alliance Modernization
Search for a New Equilibrium Amid Evolving Alliance Dynamics
Key Takeaways:-   the strategic flexibility exercised in South Korea is not akin to the ‘shock therapy’ applied to European allies to induce greater burden-sharing; rather, it is a form of greater risk-sharing.-   certain defensive capabilities of USFK that serve dual purposes for both China-related and North Korea-related c
By Chansong C. Lee [Research Fellow, Sejong Institue]
South Korea's Defense Partnerships
Towards a New Axis of Security?
Key Takeaways:- Russia's invasion of Ukraine created an urgent demand for military rearmament in Europe that its own industrial base could not supply quickly enough.- South Korea has become a key arms supplier, especially to Poland, by offering NATO-compatible systems (like tanks and howitzers) faster, cheaper, and with better industrial cooperatio
By Nicolas Jouan [Senior Analyst, RAND Europe]
APEC 2025
The APEC Summit in Korea: Guarding the Remnants of an Open Order
Key Takeaways- As the free trade era gives way to strategic rivalry, APEC must shift from liberalization toward managing interdependence among competing powers.- Korea, as this year’s host, is uniquely positioned to bridge divides and champion a pragmatic framework balancing resilience with cooperation. - The summit’s success will d
By Jeong-Ho Lee [Research Professor, Research Institute of Korean Studies, Korea University]
ROK-Japan Relations
The challenge for Seoul and Tokyo
Key Takeaways:・South Korea-Japan ties are at a crossroads. Historical and media perceptions of Japan’s new leader, Takaichi, could strain cooperation.・Economic security convergence: Both nations increasingly view supply chains, semiconductors, and critical minerals as core to national security, offering grounds for alignment.・Institutional
By Rei Koga [Associated Research Student at Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology (RCAST), University of Tokyo ]

TOPICS

South Korea's Defense Partnerships
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US Immigration Policy
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APEC 2025
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ROK-Japan Relations
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Ukraine War
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ROK-US Trade
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Latest Articles

US Immigration Policy
Trade-Investment-Immigration Nexus in Action: Case of U.S. Immigration Raid on Korean Plant
Key Takeaways- The U.S. immigration raid on Korean plants in Georgia exposed deep flaws in the visa system, which fails to accommodate Korean compan
APEC 2025
APEC Korea 2025: A Stage for Middle-Power Diplomacy Amid US-China Rivalry
Key Takeaways-  As South Korea hosts APEC 2025 in Gyeongju, it faces both a rare diplomatic opportunity and a major test amid intensifying US-C
Alliance Modernization
Recommendations for the Success and Future Trajectory of ROK–U.S. Alliance Modernization
Key Takeaways:- Establish a Shared Threat Perception: A unified strategic approach to the threats from both North Korea and China is the essential fou
Ukraine War
The Shadows of Balance : North Korea’s Nuclear Wager Amid the Sino-Russian Embrace
Key takeaways:- North Korea’s nuclear brinkmanship and alignment with China and Russia have deepened, but their authoritarian triad remains riven by
Alliance Modernization
Alliance Modernization: Recommendations for Success and Future Prospects
Key Takeaways: - Alliance modernization should therefore emphasize practical capability-building – such as advanced weapons systems, intelligen
Alliance Modernization
Seoul and Washington’s Diverging ‘Images’ of Alliance Modernization
Key Takeaways:1. Diverging Strategic Priorities: The U.S. and South Korea hold conflicting views on alliance modernization, as Washington seeks a flex

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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