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Michael Breen

No easy options with North Korea

For some time now since the victory of the Republican candidate Donald J. Trump in the U.S. presidential election, Korean government leaders have been nervously trying to assess what might change. And so when the new U.S. defense secretary James Mattis came to Seoul last week and warned North Korea that the United States would retaliate vigorously to any use of nuclear weapons, there was an almost audible sigh of relief. “Any attack on the United States, or our allies, will be defeated, and any use of nuclear weapons would be met with a response that would be effective and overwhelming,” he ...

2017-02-06 16:41

Why putting the US first is timely

The vision of the new American president, Donald Trump to “put America first” captures the shift in the American role in the world that has been going on for the past 25 years. For all the policy nervousness it is causing here and in other capitals, this new vision is not a bad thing. In fact, I would argue, it is both timely and good. To make this point, consider the role the U.S. has played internationally in the last century and consider what may lie ahead in the next century. One hundred years ago this April, the U.S. joined World War One and emerged as a major actor on the international...

2017-01-23 16:33

Park's defense team scores an own goal

Lawyers representing President Park Geun-hye made some good points in the impeachment hearings at the Constitutional Court last week that anyone who cares about democracy should bear in mind.

2017-01-09 16:43

Why women not rallying around President Park

Foremost among the sounds which I have come to associate with the regular weekend protests against President Park Geun-hye are the amplified cries and chants of women protest leaders addressing the crowds.

2016-12-26 17:24

Can we respect the Constitutional Court?

Despite the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, the protests against her continue.

2016-12-12 17:12

Me and my liberal tribe

For most of my adult life, I have adhered to a broad pro-democracy, anti-racism and anti nasty things mentality, swinging back and forth between liberalism and conservatism depending on the issue and on the personalities in power.

2016-11-29 16:09

President Park and the beast of public sentiment

The peaceful and good-natured behavior of the crowds which have gathered these past few Saturdays in Seoul to demand the resignation of President Park Geun-hye is a welcome departure from the usual style of anti-government protest in Korea.

2016-11-28 17:33

Making Korea great again

Last week, as my taxi was waiting at a red light, a motorcyclist pulled alongside and started shouting at no-one in particular.

2016-11-14 15:48

Take care with any constitutional change

The proposal last week by President Park Geun-hye that Korea change its Constitution presents lawmakers with a long overdue chance to improve the country’s governance.

2016-10-31 17:36

Importance of respecting politicians

In a recent survey, university students chose firefighters and street sweepers as the people they respect most. Teachers and others were included, but not one of the 600 people polled said they respected politicians.

2016-10-17 17:02

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