Dong Ryul Lee, Professor in the Department of Chinese Studies at Dongduk Women's University, warns that concerns over the North Korea-China-Russia alignment, appearing after China's recent Victory Day celebrations, are being overstated. The author observes that simplifying the situation into bloc structures could cause the South Korean government to miss opportunities to develop sophisticated and diverse diplomatic strategies. Professor Lee suggests that while the South Korean government should brace for the possibility of North Korea-China-Russia solidarity, it must also simultaneously prepar...

Commentary

• Dong Ryul LEE
• October 27, 2025

Seong-ho Sheen, Professor at Seoul National University, suggests that the recovery of Wartime Operational Control by South Korea has become an issue that can no longer be postponed amid the rapidly shifting security landscape of the current ROK-US alliance and Northeast Asia. The author argues that South Korea has sufficient grounds to justify the transfer of Wartime Operational Control, citing its economic scale, military strength, defense budget, and the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces Korea. Furthermore, Professor Sheen anticipates that South Korea could benefit from the transfer of Wa...

Commentary

• Seong-ho SHEEN
• October 17, 2025

Won Gon Park, Chair of EAI’s North Korea Research Center and Professor at Ewha Womans University, examines the issues and limitations of the Lee Jae Myung administration's approach to North Korean denuclearization as revealed through the ‘Three-Step Denuclearization Initiative’ and the ‘END Concept’. The author points out that the South Korean government's North Korea policy remains declarative in structure, necessitating improvements in conceptual clarity, focus of threat perception, and implementation mechanisms. To overcome these limitations, Professor Park proposes measures such ...

Commentary

• Won Gon PARK
• October 10, 2025