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2. John Burton

Yoon's economic challenge

Is Korea heading for an economic and financial crisis? There are some disturbing signs. The KOSPI stock index has been among the worst-performing in the world this year. Inflation was up 5.4 percent in May, the highest since 2008, and could reach 6 percent in the next few months due to soaring energy prices. The value of the won against the U.S. dollar has fallen to its lowest level since September 2009.

2022-07-11 16:53

North Korea stands to benefit from the war in Ukraine. Why? Because Russia may be more willing to ignore international sanctions and provide Pyongyang with what it needs: oil, grain and fertilizer among other crucial products.

2022-06-27 16:32

Korea's dead-end birthrate

Probably the biggest challenge that Korea will face over the coming decades will be its demographic crisis, with a super-low birthrate and rapidly aging population. Analysts warn that Korea's shrinking population could have serious implications for the economy and national security.

2022-06-13 16:16

Pyongyang's COVID gamble

North Korea has played the role of mini-me to China when it comes to COVID. Both countries have pursued a zero-COVID strategy over the past two years and both now are facing the disastrous results of that decision.

2022-05-30 16:15

Yoon's uncertain path

U.S. President Joe Biden's upcoming meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol, scheduled for May 21, will test the hopes of the foreign policy establishment in Washington that Korea's new president is willing to align his country more closely with America.

2022-05-16 16:18

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's decision to revive Korea's nuclear power program is a pragmatic one and reverses what some argue was an unrealistic policy by the Moon Jae-in administration to phase out nuclear energy.

2022-04-18 16:15

Even before he is inaugurated on May 10, Yoon Suk-yeol already has the appearance of a lame-duck president. Several factors are against him. First of all, he won by a razor-thin margin of 0.8 percent after a bitter presidential campaign that reflected the increased polarization of the Korean electorate.

2022-04-04 16:45

Korea and Ukraine

Russia's invasion of Ukraine is likely to have a major impact on Korea, aside from the sanctions that Seoul has already imposed on Moscow.

2022-03-07 17:09

Democratic decay

Fareed Zakaria's Global Public Square show on CNN is one of the few American television programs devoted to international issues. So it grabbed my attention when Zakaria, a respected foreign affairs analyst, took the time recently to comment on Korea's anti-feminist movement.

2022-02-07 16:35

As he marks his first year in office, President Joe Biden's North Korea policy is failing for a number of reasons. His administration, after conducting a policy review on North Korea, had promised a “careful, calibrated approach” toward persuading Pyongyang ultimately to give up its nuclear program.

2022-01-24 16:43

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