📌 ICYMI | Iran’s Bargaining Card That North Korea Never Had How might the recent U.S.-Iran MOU shape North Korea’s approach to future negotiations? Ellen Kim explores what lessons Pyongyang may draw from Iran’s bargaining strategy. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/44TujiE

📘 Korea Policy | Volume 4 · Issue 1 Rethinking the U.S.-South Korea 123 Agreement in a New Strategic Era ⚛️ Kayla T. Orta examines how the U.S. and South Korea can strengthen their nuclear partnership for a new strategic era. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4peib5l

📘 Korea Policy | Volume 4 · Issue 1 South Korea’s New External Economic Development Strategy 🌏 Taeho Bark and Dongchul Kwak argue that exports and outward investment should work together to strengthen South Korea’s long-term competitiveness. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/44eJClU

📘 Korea Policy | Volume 4 · Issue 1 Pathways to Cooperation for South Korea’s Successful Nuclear-Powered Submarine ⚓ Jihoon Yu examines a practical pathway for U.S.–South Korea cooperation on a conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarine. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4vOGlG3

📌 ICYMI | How Trump’s Approach to Dealmaking Could Shape North Korea Talks Tariff and trade deals, efforts to end the war in Ukraine, and negotiations with Iran offer clues to what future talks with North Korea may look like. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4ws2fi8

📘 Korea Policy | Volume 4 · Issue 1 The Future of U.S.–South Korea Defense Industry Cooperation on AI and Cybersecurity 🤖 Eun-ho Kang argues that the future of U.S.–South Korea defense cooperation should be built on two pillars: physical AI and cybersecurity. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4y8t78q

📘 Korea Policy | Volume 4 · Issue 1 The Path Forward for Alliance Modernization and Redesigning the U.S.–South Korea Alliance 🤝 In Hyo Seol explores why South Korea could emerge as a “model ally” in a redesigned U.S.–South Korea alliance. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4eICeVW

🇺🇸🇰🇷 How the U.S.-South Korea Joint Fact Sheet Lays the Future of the Alliance As the introduction to Korea Policy Vol. 4, Issue 1, Gilbert Rozman outlines the issue’s key themes and the challenges shaping the future of the U.S.-South Korea alliance. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4y0NyUL

📘 New Publication: Korea Policy Vol. 4, Issue 1 This issue explores the future of the U.S.–South Korea alliance, with new research on defense cooperation, AI, cybersecurity, and more. 💡 Read the full issue here: bit.ly/4eYG0cB

🌏 How has South Korea navigated growing geopolitical uncertainty? Scott Snyder argues that President Lee Jae Myung’s first year in office has focused on buying diplomatic space, time, and leverage through pragmatic diplomacy with the U.S., China, and Japan. 📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/4wcolFa

🎙️ Eye on Korea Ep. 38 How did K-Defense become a global success story? Former U.S. diplomat Rob Rapson joins Scott Snyder to discuss K-defense, energy security, the Lee Jae Myung administration, and the future of the U.S.-ROK alliance. ▶️ Watch now: https://youtu.be/PxTm7hyVtFs?si=a_4CIQCbz29dObRW

📊 South Korea remains an emerging market in MSCI’s 2026 review. MSCI’s classifications influence global investment, and a developed-market upgrade could attract more foreign capital. 📖 Read Tom Ramage’s analysis on whether Nextrade can help narrow the Korea discount. 👇 bit.ly/4gMElt8

📬 New KEI Weekly! Explore the latest analysis on South Korea’s exports, China–North Korea relations, energy security, critical minerals, and K-defense. Read more: bit.ly/4xVfhGs

🤝 Xi’s visit to Pyongyang aimed to pull North Korea closer to Beijing—but it also showed Kim Jong Un’s growing leverage. 📈 Kim is balancing Beijing and Moscow while taking a tougher line toward Washington and Seoul. 🔗 https://keia.org/analysis/china-courts-a-more-confident-north-korea/

📈 South Korea’s exports hit record highs in 2026, fueled by semiconductors and AI demand. The question worth watching: are weaker performances in other export sectors just cyclical, or signs of a deeper structural change? 🔗 https://keia.org/analysis/how-far-can-south-koreas-export-rally-go/

🎉 Please welcome Angela Lee, KEI’s new Economic Research Intern! A rising senior at Johns Hopkins University, Angela supports KEI’s economics program through research on U.S.-Korea trade and economic policy. Welcome to the team, Angela!

🇰🇷 China’s export controls accelerated South Korea’s critical mineral diversification, but key vulnerabilities remain. 📈 Gallium & germanium improved. ⚠️ Indium, graphite & tungsten remain exposed. https://keia.org/analysis/how-chinas-export-controls-accelerated-south-koreas-mineral-diversification/

🇺🇸🇰🇷 Michelle Steel has been confirmed as the next U.S. Ambassador to South Korea. Revisit our explainer on Steel’s background and how the Senate confirms ambassadors. https://keia.org/analysis/the-nomination-of-michelle-steel-and-how-the-senate-confirms-an-ambassador/

🇰🇷 Why is South Korea defying expectations? South Korea was the only G20 economy to receive an upward OECD revision for 2026. 📈 Randall Jones explores Korea’s resilience amid global uncertainty. https://keia.org/analysis/south-koreas-economy-accelerates-despite-the-middle-east-energy-shock/

🎙️ China, Russia, & North Korea: The Emerging Axis of Upheaval? Youngjun Kim discusses China–North Korea ties, Pyongyang’s relationship with Moscow, and what it all means for Washington, Seoul, and the Indo-Pacific. 🎧 Listen now: https://youtu.be/bwsc9jrzGlU?si=UoZqMWFG2zNfpV-6

🌍 What can we expect from this year’s G7 Summit? KEI’s Tom Ramage spoke with Voice of America about trade, critical minerals, AI, and responses to China’s growing economic influence. 🎥 Watch the full interview: https://keia.org/news/tom-ramage-on-what-to-expect-from-the-g7-summit/

Read the latest edition of KEI Weekly at the link below or in our bio!

🇰🇷🇯🇵 Why South Korea and Japan Need a Digital Trade Agreement South Korea and Japan are leading digital economies, yet they have few binding rules for digital trade. What are the risks of the status quo? 🔗 https://keia.org/analysis/why-south-korea-and-japan-need-a-digital-trade-agreement/

🎙️ New Episode | Eye on Korea Ep. 36 Has South Korea earned a bigger seat at the global table? Former U.S. Ambassador Philip Goldberg joins us to discuss South Korea’s growing global influence, the U.S.-ROK alliance, and the security challenges facing the Indo-Pacific. 🎧 https://bit.ly/49TmjBo

🚨 ICYMI: Could Xi Jinping help pave the way for another Trump-Kim summit? With Xi heading to Pyongyang and speculation growing in Seoul, the possibility of renewed U.S.-North Korea diplomacy appears less far-fetched than it did just months ago. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3Q1E9eL

⚛️ ICYMI: Russia already won Vietnam’s first reactor project. South Korea’s nuclear ambitions now hinge on the second. For Seoul, the challenge isn’t just technology—it’s matching Moscow on financing, fuel supply, and delivery. New analysis by Terrence Matsuo: https://bit.ly/4g0Q9Yn

🇺🇸🇰🇷 The U.S.-South Korea alliance has never been more integrated—or more fragile. In a new op-ed, Scott Snyder examines how growing cooperation in investment, shipbuilding, and defense is strengthening the alliance even as trade and security tensions persist. 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/4aszkSq

🚨 HAPPENING NOW! Join us live as former U.S. Ambassadors Philip Goldberg and Kathleen Stephens discuss the state and future of the U.S.-ROK alliance with Scott Snyder. 🔴 Watch live: https://bit.ly/4erwqin

🚨 TOMORROW! A year of change. What’s next for the U.S.-ROK alliance? Former U.S. Ambassadors Philip Goldberg and Kathleen Stephens join Scott Snyder for a timely discussion. 📅 June 4, 2026 | 10:00 AM ET Register now. ⬇️ https://bit.ly/3PSJ6Xa

📢 We’re hiring! The Korea Economic Institute of America (KEI) is looking for an Office Manager to join our team in Washington, DC. Interested in operations, events, and supporting U.S.-Korea relations? We’d love to hear from you. 🔗 Learn more and apply: https://keia.org/jobs/office-manager/

📦 ICYMI: One of South Korea’s key economic security challenges isn’t demand—it’s dependence. OECD data show that 21.8% of Korea’s critical raw material imports come from countries that impose export restrictions. Supply chain resilience is a strategic priority for Seoul. 🔗 https://bit.ly/3REWsa1

📅 Coming up: A year of change in U.S.-South Korea relations. Former U.S. Ambassadors Philip Goldberg and Kathleen Stephens join Scott Snyder to discuss where the U.S.-ROK alliance stands today, and where it may be headed next. 🗓️ June 4, 2026 | 10:00 AM ET 🔗 Register: https://bit.ly/3PSJ6Xa

🔍 New analysis: A U.S.-North Korea summit later this year is possible—but far from certain. China’s stance on denuclearization and the outcome of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks could be key factors shaping the future of U.S.-North Korea diplomacy. 🔗 https://bit.ly/4ujzlQ4

🚨 ICYMI: The Iran war is exposing a global interceptor shortage. As Patriot inventories shrink and U.S. production struggles to keep pace, Gulf states are increasingly turning to South Korea’s Cheongung-II. Key question: Can Seoul scale production fast enough? 🔗 Read more: https://bit.ly/3Rxi8oy

OUT NOW: Read the latest analysis and insights from KEI, and catch up on our latest videos and podcasts in KEI Weekly. Click the link below or visit our bio for more. https://koreaeconomicinstitute.substack.com/p/kei-weekly-boosting-supply-chains

North Korea’s cybercrime operations are helping fund its missile and nuclear weapons programs, making cyber warfare a major global security threat. Watch full: https://keia.org/event/redefining-the-u-s-south-korea-partnership-on-nuclear-technologies-and-cybersecurity/

🇺🇸🇰🇷 How has the U.S.-ROK alliance evolved amid growing geopolitical and economic uncertainty? Join KEI for a discussion on the future of the alliance and what lies ahead for Washington and Seoul. 📅 June 4, 2026 | 10 AM ET 🎟️ RSVP: https://keia.org/event/a-year-of-change-in-u-s-south-korea-relations/

For decades, the U.S. approach toward North Korea focused on negotiations, deterrence, and strategic patience. During that same period, North Korea went from having no nuclear weapons to developing a growing nuclear arsenal with multiple delivery systems.

AI is shaping the future of energy, with Korea positioning itself at the forefront. From advanced nuclear reactors to real-time AI integration and cybersecurity, the next wave of energy infrastructure is already in progress. ⚛️

Former U.S. Ambassadors to Korea Philip Goldberg (2022–2025) and Kathleen Stephens (2008–2011) take stock of the alliance after a year of tariffs, investment deals, and immigration friction. Learn what comes next. RSVP➡️ https://keia.org/event/a-year-of-change-in-u-s-south-korea-relations/

📌 Last week, KEI hosted a discussion on U.S.-ROK cooperation in nuclear technology and cybersecurity. Missed it? Watch the full discussion and read the transcript here: 🔗 https://keia.org/event/redefining-the-u-s-south-korea-partnership-on-nuclear-technologies-and-cybersecurity/

📌 ICYMI: Thanks to everyone who joined yesterday’s discussion on “The Iran War and Korea’s Energy Impact.” Missed it? Watch the full conversation here: 🎥 www.youtube.com/live/G4sTBwt...

🇰🇵 North Korea is drawing lessons from the Iran war, including underground infrastructure and low-cost drone warfare. Most worrying: Pyongyang may conclude Iran’s mistake was not going nuclear. https://keia.org/analysis/tactical-and-operational-lessons-north-korea-is-learning-from-the-iran-war/

🔴 Happening now: “The Iran War and Korea’s Energy Impact” Join a conversation on the Middle East conflict, Northeast Asian energy security, and what the Iran War means for South Korea’s import-dependent economy. 🎥 Watch live: https://www.youtube.com/live/G4sTBwtwI18?si=MyyRw01-TzXwfuPZ

Last chance to RSVP! Learn what the main energy considerations for Korea are in the wake of the Middle East crisis and what the global landscape for these resources will look like heading forward. Scan the QR Code or click here👉 https://keia.org/event/the-iran-war-and-koreas-energy-impact/

🌍 Tomorrow at KEI: A conversation on how the Iran conflict is reshaping energy markets, supply chains, and economic security in Korea and Northeast Asia. 📅 May 20, 2026 | 10 AM ET 📍 1800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 🎟️ RSVP: https://keia.org/event/the-iran-war-and-koreas-energy-impact/

📉 South Korea’s economy faces a major energy shock as Iran War disrupts global energy markets and supply chains. How resilient is Korea’s economy amid rising energy prices and volatility? New analysis by Tom Ramage: https://keia.org/analysis/how-south-korea-is-weathering-the-iran-war-oil-shock/

⚡ Reminder: Join KEI for a discussion on how the Iran conflict is affecting Korea’s energy security and Northeast Asia’s energy outlook. 📅 May 20, 2026 | 10 AM ET 📍 1800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 🎟️ RSVP: https://keia.org/event/the-iran-war-and-koreas-energy-impact/

🎙️ OPCON Transfer Should Have Happened a “Long Time Ago” | Eye on Korea Ep. 35 Former Acting U.S. Ambassador Joseph Yun on OPCON transfer, alliance modernization, and the future of the U.S.-ROK alliance. Listen now 👇 https://youtu.be/dfdUVBks8gk?si=Ew6FQnPfotBLVAKv

⚡ How will the Iran conflict impact Korea’s energy security? Join KEI for a discussion on Middle East instability, LNG supply chains, and Korea’s economic outlook. 📅 May 20, 2026 | 10 AM ET 📍 1800 K Street NW, Washington, DC 🎟️ RSVP: https://keia.org/event/the-iran-war-and-koreas-energy-impact/