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Mon, May 28, 2018 | 04:56

Opinion > Columnists > Stephen Costello >

Clinton, Park - coming and going

You really can’t make this stuff up. Who could have predicted that the political systems in the U.S. and Korea would face near-implosion at almost exactly the same moment?

Stephen Costello | 2016-11-07 16:18

Who will lead NK in from cold?

The U.S. and South Korean presidents seem to be trying to topple the DPRK government through sanctions. This may work, but it probably won't. It will certainly provoke strong retaliatory actions from the North Koreans. There are new reports of activity at three nuclear test sites there. Despite these alarming signals, and the greater threat of mistakes leading to violent clashes, little will likely change for the next two months.

Stephen Costello | 2016-10-09 17:17

5 myths confront 2 new presidents

Several historians and political observers here have claimed that the US presidential election on Nov. 8 is the most important in a generation. They may have a point in that the election of Donald Trump would be a multi-level disaster for the US and many other countries. However, two points should be noted that will determine the election's importance in northeast Asia.

Stephen Costello | 2016-09-25 16:48

Rethinking Obama pivot to Asia

North Korea's fifth nuclear test on Friday can be understood as a celebration of sorts on the state's national day. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) was founded on 9 September 1948. It also may be push-back against what they see as continued US and South Korean preparation for ending the Kim Jung Un regime. But it can also be read as a parting shot for President Obama as he prepares to leave office in 5 months. Assessments of his policies toward this region are emerging, and will inevitably have to deal with the contradictions and erroneous assessments that underpin the past ...

Stephen Costello | 2016-09-12 16:54

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

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