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Wed, August 15, 2018 | 20:48

Opinion > Columnists > Stephen Costello >

Diplomatic incoherence

By Stephen Costello The most vexing problems of Korean diplomacy depend fundamentally on sequence. Yet that is precisely what is left unsaid by officials who prefer to pretend at policy rather than do the work. In some cases, the issue of sequence is what divides two views or options for action. Sequence in policy is highly political. It is also very much based on power and confidence. Much of the comment about President Park Geun-hye’s visit to Beijing avoids this necessity. Is it really progress for the Korean leader to urge again and publicly ...

Stephen Costello | 2015-09-21 16:43

Perfect storm in Northeast Asia

Five trends are converging in the northeast Asian region. If they provoke leaders to take up the growing challenges of security, economic integration and political deal-making, we may be in for very interesting times. The times will be more interesting for the prospect that what happens in the next three to five years could distinguish this region from others - the Middle East and Europe - where dysfunction is likely to prevail for this same period.

Stephen Costello | 2015-09-07 15:44

Intelligence Experts Discuss Korea

Two top U.S. intelligence officials sat down recently to discuss developments in Korea and the region as part of the AsiaEast.Org discussion series. Ambassador Joseph DeTrani is president of the Intelligence and National Security Alliance, and has a long and legendary career in U.S. intelligence agencies, including the CIA, State Department and National Intelligence Council.

Stephen Costello | 2015-08-24 16:38

Lee Hee-ho's sense of modernity

Madam Lee Hee Ho, widow of former President Kim Dae-jung, has been to North Korea. Although this has been the focus of many news stories in Korea and abroad, none seem capable of putting her journey or her impact on history into full perspective. Reports in both The New York Times and on the BBC noted the North’s drive to build nuclear weapons, but failed to remember why the South-North-U.S. rapprochement of the 1990s fell apart. They failed at this simple journalistic duty even though strategic mistakes at that time haunt the current U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, just as they mark the beginning o...

Stephen Costello | 2015-08-10 16:34

US-Iran Deal Worse Than US-Korea Deal

The new deal between Iran and the P5+1, the result of years of negotiations led by the US, is a good deal, and should be supported. The complexity of the Middle East right now, and the multiple ways that Iran's actions in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq and elsewhere support terror and destabilization, are mind-boggling. The need to confront Iranian proxy forces in those locations will not go away with this agreement. So the follow-on work with allies and neighbors of Iran in years to come will be necessary and will require commitment from the US and the other P5+1 countries. But still the deal is over...

Stephen Costello | 2015-07-31 16:12

China's Iron Silk Road

New thinking about China's One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiatives and the newly launched Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) shows why key rail and development projects will test and sort out companies, national interests, and leaders in the coming decades. Together with the Northeast Asia Peace and Cooperation Initiative (NAPCI) from Korea and its Iron Silk Road predecessors, these initiatives may begin to bear fruit, now that their economic and development logic is pushing against the short-term security objections that have stalled them until now.

Stephen Costello | 2015-07-14 16:24

International crisis group blunders on North Korea

The newest production on North Korea from the International Crisis Group (ICG) is strikingly unambitious, considering the organization is one of the few international NGOs in a position to speak truth to governments. The six-party talks are certainly dead in all but name, as Daniel Pinkston says, but they were never organized to reach realistic agreements. Non-governmental organizations and other non-state actors should certainly help keep North Korea connected as Tim Johnston urges, but they will never substitute for government action. Deterrence and containment are certainly necessary as P...

Stephen Costello | 2015-06-29 16:39

US address President Park did not give

Dear Mr. President, Madam First Lady, political colleagues, media representatives, American friends, Thank you for your kind words. All Koreans, no matter what their different political or social views might be, are thankful for you and your unwavering support for our country and our future ambitions.

Stephen Costello | 2015-06-15 16:35

Abe, Park, Obama and current debates

Recent commentary surrounding Prime Minister Abe's visit to the U.S. and the ongoing diplomatic strains among Japan, Korea and China have exposed several ongoing debates about events in the region. Several points are relevant. One, the success of Abe's U.S. visit could only occur during a time when China is seen as trying to push around its neighbors. If the agenda were to cover issues other than security and the anti-China TPP, other criticism of Abe may have been made. The success of the Abe visit could also only occur when U.S . officials are singularly concerned with the optics of streng...

Stephen Costello | 2015-05-18 15:48

Korea stumbles diplomatically

Many Koreans are worried that their government is missing out as diplomacy surrounding the Northeast Asian region accelerates and Korea seems less relevant. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe completed a mostly successful visit to the U.S. last week. Should Korea try to outdo Japan by appealing even more to the U.S. administration's preferences and biases? Should it abandon hopes of improving relations with Japan, the U.S. and China for now, and concentrate on an opening with North Korea? Should it flood Washington with funding for new public relations firms, political consultants and NGOs?

Stephen Costello | 2015-05-04 16:01

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