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Wed, October 17, 2018 | 10:40

Opinion > Columnists > Stephen Costello >

US still paralyzed on Korean Peninsula

Koreans pay special attention to views in the US about them. They also pay attention to American policy directed at the Korean Peninsula. In this election year in the US, the prospect that a Republican administration could return to office and continue the approaches and mindsets from the Bush years has real consequences. But the prospect that a new Democratic administration could also fail to remember past successes and make the security situation even worse is even more likely.

Stephen Costello | 2016-08-28 15:57

Korea-Japan intelligence sharing

Three months ago a policy specialist here in Washington asked for my responses to his questions about Japan-Korea-US cooperation with Aegis platforms, and intelligence sharing about North Korea. Today these issues have come up again due to statements about how the ROK government would use THAAD radar information gathered about North Korea and possibly shared with Japan. The North Korean missile launch of 3 August landed within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, and prompted Japan's Self Defense Forces to be prepared to shoot the next one down.

Stephen Costello | 2016-08-14 16:12

THAAD, Trump and China

I would rather not write about THAAD, Trump and China. In all three cases, immediate issues are a diversion from the real, central questions. The media is not often good at remembering how we got here. These cases provoke so much confusion that clear thinking is hard. So sometimes we old-timers need to bring up recent history, hoping that the larger picture will become clearer.

Stephen Costello | 2016-07-31 17:05

South Korea isolating itself

South Korea is isolating itself. In a tragic twist, the attempt by the last two presidents to involve Korea in everything, anything, except the hard business of talking to North Korea, has had the opposite effect. China is considering reducing its interest in Korea. Japan during the Shinzo Abe years can afford to deal with South Korea as a subcategory of managing its relations with Washington. Korea remains a vibrant market, and a resilient society, but most of the region and the world expect little of its leadership. Assessments of Seoul from Washington are particularly negative.

Stephen Costello | 2016-07-17 16:59

Brexit - wake-up call for Korea's future

There are many important dimensions to the tragic vote of the UK electorate to exit the EU on 23 June. Ramifications of the vote will be profound and negative. Both political parties descended into crises as the two main factions within each one - always in tension - went to war with one another. The Scottish may leave Britain to rejoin the EU. Moves are underway to delay or cancel the Brexit public referendum. As the UK begins to grapple with its biggest political and identity crisis in a generation, are there lessons for Korea?

Stephen Costello | 2016-07-03 17:29

Time for 'Korexit'

We don't know Hillary

In fact, we don’t really know what policies a President Hillary Clinton would follow.The recent book by New York Times reporter Mark Landler, Alter Egos, is a deep look into the actions of Clinton and President Obama during the past 7 years, but on future policy it raises as many questions as it answers. As Secretary of State her role was circumscribed by her boss and by the political climate. But as president she would have a much freer hand.

Stephen Costello | 2016-06-19 15:54

Hiroshima, Trump and Hillary

What should Koreans take from the current campaigns for president in the US? Perhaps more helpfully, how can they avoid the easy and distracting points that are repeatedly made, and find instead the points that are relevant to their lives and Korea's future?

Stephen Costello | 2016-06-05 16:21

Assembly elections and Clinton

What do U.S. officials really believe about how their policies will impact North Korea? How do they really think the North Korean leaders see the U.S.? As an adversary, potential partner, or enemy? These questions have come up in recent weeks as various officials, semi-officials and analysts debate options in the remaining months of the Obama administration. It is coincidental but important that the North Koreans are now holding a rare party convention for the first time in 36 years.

Stephen Costello | 2016-05-22 16:45

Washington think tanks misunderstand Korea

Some of the smartest people work at Washington policy institutions. They have experience, extensive and relevant backgrounds, and detailed proposals that are unavailable elsewhere. They’re called think tanks for a reason. It is not really possible to label them collectively.

Stephen Costello | 2016-05-08 16:51

Elections provoke policy debate

WASHINGTON D.C. - Korean democrats have won majority power in the National Assembly for the first time in 16 years. Most of the discussion during the campaigns was about everything except public policy. Now that many voters have abandoned the Park Guen Hye administration, what does this election mean for policy changes, either during the 18 months until the presidential election in December 2017 or possibly during the next administration from February 2018 onward?

Stephen Costello | 2016-04-24 16:49

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