December 13, 2016
4 Ways Trump Can Avoid a North Korea Disaster
The impeachment of President Park Geun-hye plunges South Korea deeper into political turmoil. Anticipating another North Korean provocation, Defense Minister Han Min-koo called on Thursday for heightened vigilance among the Republic of Korea (ROK) armed forces. But it will be left largely to incoming U.S. President Donald Trump to steer us through the looming mayhem.
The South Korean National Assembly voted 234-56 on Friday to impeach Park for her corruption scandal. With roughly half of the ruling Saenuri Party members defecting to join opposition forces in favor of impeachment, it’s now up to a Constitutional Court to validate the vote and either pave the way for early elections or restore Park’s powers.
In the midst of Korea’s abrupt and potentially sharp political transition (the leading presidential candidate, left-leaning Moon Jae-in, promises to undo some of Park’s recent security policy decisions, including on missile defense and intelligence cooperation with Japan), the United States will make a critical political transition of its own on January 20, when Barack Obama hands over the keys to the White House to Donald Trump.
Read the full piece at The Diplomat.
More from CNAS
-
Indo-Pacific Security / Transatlantic Security
Top Experts Decode India-U.S. Trade Deal | Questions Loom Over Russian Oil Imports, $500Bn InvestmentIn this episode of India Ascends, amid US President Donald Trump's claim that India has agreed to halt purchases of Russian oil, New Delhi has reiterated that ensuring energy ...
By Daniel Silverberg
-
"Modi-Trump Share a Very..." White House on India-U.S. Deal as BJP vs Congress at Home
In the wake of a high-octane year of tariff wars and diplomatic friction, a massive breakthrough has finally been reached: the India-US Trade Deal is officially here. But as t...
By Lisa Curtis
-
Will India Halt Russian Oil Imports Under India-U.S. Trade Deal? U.S. Expert Lisa Curtis Explains
Top foreign policy expert and Director, Centre for New American Security, Lisa Curtis discusses the likelihood of India halting imports of Russian oil under the new India-U.S....
By Lisa Curtis
-
Congressional Support Key for Sustaining Momentum of U.S., UK, Australia Partnership
This article was originally published on The Hill. The fiscal 2026 defense appropriations bill which will be voted on by the House this week allocates $27.2 billion for naval ...
By Lisa Curtis & Ryan Claffey