New Beginnings in the U'S'ROK Alliance

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New Beginnings in the U.S.-ROK Alliance

• David Straub
• Associate Director, Korean Studies Program
• Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
• Stanford University

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Outline

• What is the New Beginnings project?
• Why was it formed?
• Who are its members?
• How does it work?
• What is its significance?
• What are its recommendations?
• Why a continuing project?

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What is New Beginnings?

• U.S.-ROK policy study group
• Announced January 2008
• Led by Stanford APARC, Korea Society
• Advises U.S. policymakers

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Why was it formed?

• Update strengthen bilateral relations
• Concern about frictions
• New opportunities

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Who are its members?

• All Americans
• Non-partisan
• Ten members
• Northeast Asia Korea hands
• Varied background
• Four diplomats
• Three academics analysts
• Two journalists
• One military officer

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Co-chairmen

• Gi-Wook Shin, Shorenstein APARC Dir.
• Evans J.R. Revere, Korea Society Pres.

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Members

• Michael H. Armacost, Amb. to Japan
• Thomas C. Hubbard, Amb. to Korea
• Charles L. Jack Pritchard, Amb. for North
  Korean Talks

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Members

• Don Oberdorfer, journalist
• Daniel C. Sneider, journalist

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Members

• Victor Cha, CSIS Korea Chair
• Robert Carlin, North Korea Analyst

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Former member

• Stephen W. Bosworth

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How does it work?

• Internal conferences

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How does it work?

• Meetings with U.S. and ROK officials

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How does it work?

• Individual engagement
• Informal communication among members

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How does it work?

• Public seminars

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How does it work?

• Reports to American policymakers
• ksp.stanford.edu

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What is its significance?

• Reflects value U.S. places on ROK
• Offers advice to U.S. policymakers
• Shows parameters of U.S. thinking on Korean
  Peninsula affairs

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What are its recommendations?

• N. Korea Never accept DPRK nukes
• U.S.-ROK Alliance Return OpCon
• Economic cooperation Approve FTA

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Why a continuing project?

• The alliances increasing importance
• North Korean challenge
• Rise of China
• ROKs regional/global role
• The U.S. the rise of the rest
• Continued divisions within South Korea
• Continued engagement required

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