Leadership Dynamics: The Korean Peninsula in the Moon and Trump Era

At times throughout history, the most unpredictable elements of foreign policy and international relations derive from domestic factors. 2017 has witnessed some unprecedented changes in this regard. The election of Donald J. Trump in the United States marks a definitive change in the way the United States looks at its international commitments. The impeachment crisis in Korea and the election of the Moon Jae-In government last month offer a new start for Korean politics. In China, the 19th Party Congress casts a long shadow over Xi Jinping’s leadership and China’s future strategic objectives. All of these changes are taking place in the context of growing threats from North Korea, complicated relations between China and South Korea, and a veritable blank slate in relations between the new Korean government and the Trump administration. World experts will converge in Seoul for the seventh annual JoongAng Ilbo-CSIS Forum to address these issues of importance. Scholars, experts, opinion leaders, and form