🎧 ICYMI I @victordcha.bsky.social recently spoke on Vandenberg Flash Focus about his book “China’s Weaponization of Trade," co-authored with Ellen Kim and @andysaulim.com.
🔊 Listen on
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• YouTube: shorturl.at/WxDB0
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Recent @csis.org satellite imagery from this month shows the completion of a building at Yongbyon that is widely believed to be a new uranium enrichment plant for producing weapons-grade material for nuclear weapons, according to @iaeaorg.bsky.social.
Read here:
Good morning and good night from Seoul as we wrapped up day one of the Asan Plenum!
Stay tuned for tomorrow's great sessions, including one with @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social on responding to the rise of CRINK (China, Russia, Iran and North Korea).
Watch here: www.youtube.com/live/g4O8h3Y...
@csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com 는 현재 호르무즈 해협에 체류 중인 한국 소유 또는 한국이 운영하는 선박 26척 가운데 23척을 확인했다고 밝혔습니다.
해당 선단의 구성은 한국의 대외 무역 및 에너지 공급망 전반에 대한 노출도를 보여줍니다. 선박 유형은 원유 및 석유제품 운반선 17척, 벌크선 5척, 가스 운반선 2척, 컨테이너선 1척, 자동차 운반선 1척으로 구성돼 있습니다.
🔗 자세히 보기: www.csis.org/analysis/imp...
“Watch Japan” as “Seoul will probably peg its courses of action based on what Japan does.”
Now that two Japan-linked vessels have passed through the Strait of Hormuz....will Korea follow suit?
🔗 Read more: www.csis.org/analysis/imp...
@csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com
Risky to Cut a Deal with Iran:
Any Seoul–Tehran deal could draw U.S. retaliation, but limited exemptions may be possible under current signals—likely covering only a small share of South Korean tankers. shorturl.at/8Z3Df
Watch Japan:
On the Strait of Hormuz, Seoul is threading the needle between Iran and Washington, making it unlikely to move first and instead watching Japan’s approach. shorturl.at/8Z3Df
High Political Stakes:
The war brings political as well as economic pressure for the Lee government, with potential effects on June’s local elections and the balance within the ruling party. shorturl.at/8Z3Df
South Korea’s official petroleum reserve position looks more robust on paper than in operational reality.
At Korea’s actual refinery throughput of 2.9 million barrels per day, government-only stocks will only last 34 days. After the recent IEA reserve release, it may now be down to 26 days. (6/10)
Beyond crude oil dependence, South Korea also has dependencies on helium, naphtha and LNG supplies that transits through the Strait of Hormuz. (5/10)
Three out of four major South Korean refiners have U.S. or Saudi ownership stakes. (4/10)
Since the conflict began, South Korean shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been effectively halted. In February, there were 33 South Korean–flagged ships that transited through the Gulf, excluding additional South Korean–owned or operated (but not flagged) ships. (3/10)
CSIS identified 23 of 26 South Korean–owned or operated ships stranded in the Strait of Hormuz.
The fleet’s composition reflects the full breadth of South Korea’s trade exposure: 17 crude and oil tankers, 5 bulk carriers, 2 gas carriers, a container ship, and an auto carrier. (2/10)
The Impact of the Iran Conflict on South Korea: By the Numbers
Seoul faces mounting pressure with four policy paths involving high political stakes, Japan's moves, risks in dealing with Iran, and Russian exemptions.
@csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social @andysaulim.com
Thread⬇️ (1/10) shorturl.at/8Z3Df
📖 Midwest Book Tour
Starting today, @csis.org @victordcha.bsky.social will discuss his book China’s Weaponization of Trade:
1️⃣ @global-affairs.bsky.social — shorturl.at/NDWpW
2️⃣ Wheaton College — shorturl.at/0VC3L
3️⃣ Indiana University — shorturl.at/H61yE
4️⃣ Ohio State University — shorturl.at/orqKF
📸🎥 ICYMI: Photos from the live event, featuring @victordcha.bsky.social with @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social and Paul Heer on China’s Weaponization of Trade.
▶️ Catch the full talk on YouTube:
shorturl.at/3RH1I
🔴 LIVE NOW
Join @victordcha.bsky.social @csis.org, Paul Heer, and @leslievinjamuri.bsky.social at @global-affairs.bsky.social as they examine how economic coercion differs from traditional sanctions and what can be done to counter it.
🎥 Watch via YouTube: shorturl.at/o1e0x
Today, CSIS announces retired Gen. Joseph F. Dunford, the 19th chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has been named our next CEO, succeeding John Hamre, who announced last year that he will retire after 26 years of transformational leadership.
Read more: bit.ly/4b383Ha
📢Last week to apply: Spring/Summer 2026 Interns!
Applications for the @csis.org Korea Chair Spring/Summer 2026 internship close this week.
Gain hands-on experience in Korean policy, research, and analysis at D.C.'s leading think tank.
Apply by March 13🔽
careers.csis.org/opportunitie...
NEW @csis.org REPORT (A thread⬇️)
The Yelabuga UAV Factory in Russia is a real-world example of the deepening collaboration between the so-called CRINK countries of China, Russia, Iran and North Korea.
In this episode of CSIS' "The Capital Cable", Ramón Pacheco Pardo joins other leading Korean experts Sydney Seiler and Lami Kim to unpack everything you need to know about the Ninth Party Congress in the DPRK. Hosted by Mark Lippert.
Watch
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
@korea.csis.org
In Berlin for the next 3 days for a conference. Any suggestions welcomed!
LiVE NOW on @csis.org @korea.csis.org The Impossible State | APARC's Gi-Wook Shin discusses his book, The Four Talent Giants: how Japan, Australia, China, and India built economic power by using distinct national human resources development strategies. www.youtube.com/watch?v=THR2...
🧵The U.S. Supreme Court declared President Trump’s use of IEEPA to impose global tariffs against U.S. trading partners illegal. @geopolitics.csis.org assesses how governments and key sectors around the world are likely to react.
Learn more: www.csis.org/analysis/sta...
@korea.csis.org expert @victordcha.bsky.social notes that both the U.S. and South Korea face 2026 elections that will be seen as a popular mandate of government policies, raising the stakes of answering the questions now posed on the status of the joint trade agreement.
Photo Credit: Chey Institute for Advanced Studies
Tomorrow | The Trump administration recently released the 2026 National Defense Strategy, outlining defense priorities for the next four years. @korea.csis.org discusses implications for Asia.
Listen in: www.csis.org/events/trumps-national-d...
NEW @csis.org @geopolitics.csis.org imagery analysis and AIS data collection find that China started relocating the Atlantic Amsterdam from inside the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), Jan 27.
Read our story by @victordcha.bsky.social, Jennifer Jun and AMTI 🔽
beyondparallel.csis.org/china-begins...
