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Sun, January 20, 2019 | 15:41

Opinion > Columnists > Stephen Costello >

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

US-Iran deal - 10 lessons for Korea

The essence of the deal will not be about enrichment capacity, timelines or other technical details. It will instead be about the exchange of mutually valuable elements, and about the political will for implementation. In the case of North Korea, they will have to see a clear path to development, diplomatic relations and international interaction, and performance by the other parties. South Korea and the U.S. will have to see a cap on nuclear weapons work, WMD, and missiles, a rollback of plutonium and uranium possession, and verification. A deal cannot appear or be one-sided. There can be e...

Stephen Costello | 2015-04-20 16:29

Why unlock North Korea?

Why do we care about North Korea? Why not let it stew in its isolation and wait - however long that might be - for some change there? Why should leaders in South Korea, Japan or the U.S. spend precious political capital on bringing about disarmament and development in that odd place?

Stephen Costello | 2015-04-06 16:49

Rail, bridge, tunnel and rapprochement

As Korean and Japanese foreign ministers try their best to jump-start a three-way summit with China, one can step back and appreciate how tense and uncertain the region is, compared to just 15 years ago. If conflict is logical, then why have there been Korea-Japan bridge/tunnel parliamentary committees in the Korean National Assembly and the Japanese Diet for the past three decades? Why have the Korean and Japanese leaders felt the need to continue voicing support for this project?

Stephen Costello | 2015-03-23 16:25

Should President Park go to Moscow?

Korean President Park Geun-hye faces a defining choice regarding her appearance at the Russian celebration of the end of World War II in Moscow in May. Because of regional power dynamics; the current state of political needs and requirements in East Asian, Russian and American capitals; and because Korea’s interests are clearly at stake; the decision could boost the President and Korea, or it could diminish them both.

Stephen Costello | 2015-03-09 16:14

Questions to ask candidates now

Choosing the right question is the beginning of wisdom. It can also be the beginning of strategic thinking. When watching and choosing political leaders, journalists and the public should demand long-term, integrated and realistic thinking and answers from prospective candidates and party leaders. Recent history shows that there is no substitute for having done the homework on issues, for travel and personal exchanges, for intellectual openness to new ideas, and for changing one’s mind or assumptions. As pretenders to political power, how should these individuals and political/policy organiz...

Stephen Costello | 2015-02-23 17:11

Political parties must choose

Political parties are still important in Korea. The pull between personality-based parties and program-based parties has often been misunderstood, as if all that mattered was that the boss could demand loyalty, rally support and collect funds. In fact the supporting power groups, the kind of change expected, and the view of national identity was always very different between the conservatives and the progressives in Korea. The “Three Kims” era is now over a decade old, and the requirement for clear and compelling programs has only increased. This should be good for both parties, because it w...

Stephen Costello | 2015-02-09 16:27

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