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Sat, October 21, 2017 | 19:32

Opinion > Columnists > Stephen Costello >

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

China's conflicting interests on Korea

The discussion of Chinese interests regarding their North Korean neighbor, conflicted as they are, has often omitted some important considerations. Chinese officials and academics have often disagreed with each other and among themselves, so confusion is not surprising. Interests should also be distinguished from shorter-term tactical statements and actions, which are what most observers follow. Such interests should be a better guide to real policies and actions than the latest public statements or ungrounded assumptions.

Stephen Costello | 2016-04-10 16:44

Wind, Sun or Clouds?

Several people have pointed out to me an error in symbolism in my last column, and a misinterpretation of the famous fable by the writer Aesop. I agree that the logical alternative to sunshine in the fable is the wind, not the dark clouds. What ROK and US leaders have been doing could have been called the "Strong Wind" policy. However, had I done that, I would have to assume that Presidents Kim Dae Jung and Park GuenHye are aiming for the same result, taking off the coat. But I don’t think we can assume that. Maybe Presidents Park and Obama want the traveler to take off his coat, and then hi...

Stephen Costello | 2016-03-27 16:43

How will Dark Cloud policy work?

Many journalists, scholars, and experts have been saying for weeks that President Park Guen-hye’s speech to the Assembly, together with her government’s unilateral sanctions and closing of both the Kaesong business park and the Rajin-Khasan logistics hub, have finally ended the Sunshine, or engagement, policy. They often say that President Park, and also President Barack Obama, have “lost patience” with the DPRK. In this view, North Korea’s behavior was “tolerated” and the prospect of engagement was “kept alive.” Without getting into the accuracy of the media, or the impact of technology, ec...

Stephen Costello | 2016-03-13 16:25

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Lunch with Navy sailors