Battlegrounds w/ H.R. McMaster: Threat from North Korea & South Korean–American Alliance's Future

H.R. McMaster in conversation with Ho-Young Ahn, President of University of North Korean Studies on Tuesday, September 22, 2020 at 9AM PT.

In this second episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Ambassador Ahn discuss the daunting challenges South Korea faces with North Korea’s nuclear and missile ambitions and China’s political and economic aggression. South Korea’s relationship with Japan is increasingly strained due to historical grievances as South Korea-U.S. relations are complicated due to anti-alliance sentiment among a vocal minority of South Koreans as well as demands from American leaders that South Korea share more of the defense burden.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Ho-Young Ahn is President of University of North Korean Studies. From 2013 to 2017, he was South Korea’s Ambassador to the U.S. and prior to that served as First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

H. R. McMaster is the Fouad and Michelle Ajami Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. He is also the Bernard and Susan Liautaud Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute and lecturer at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. He was the 26th assistant to the president for National Security Affairs. Upon graduation from the United States Military Academy in 1984, McMaster served as a commissioned officer in the United States Army for thirty-four years before retiring as a Lieutenant General in June 2018.

ABOUT THE SERIES

Battlegrounds provides a needed forum with leaders from key countries to share their assessment of problem sets and opportunities that have implications for U.S. foreign policy and national security strategy. Each episode features H.R. McMaster in a one-on-one conversation with a senior foreign government leader to allow Americans and partners abroad to understand how the past produced the present and how we might work together to secure a peaceful and prosperous future. “Listening and learning from those who have deep knowledge of our most crucial challenges is the first step in crafting the policies we need to secure peace and prosperity for future generations.”

[richardbowles]

So refreshing to hear insights from experts. Although these are opinions, they are well informed and so different than commodity "news". Great value for my time. Thank you.

[IndroneelMukerji]

The US should continue to align and support South Korea’s security interests, as well as that of Japan, against the treats from both North Korea and an aggressive PRC.

[kingcrazymani]

Someone wanted me to make a comment here. In Spring 1979, Ambassador Lee Chung Hee (then Ambassador to West Germany) visited his son at the University of Rochester, a school which his son, Lee Chung Min and I attended in our sophomore year. The three of us went out to lunch together. The Ambassador, in his comparative wisdom as a diplomat, told me two things that an Ambassador who was also a very successful General would only tell a young King who had recently attained majority. 42 years later, I still consider how it is that Ambassadors and statesmen are supposed to behave. Lee Chung Hee set the gold standard, a standard only rarely attained by others.

[dongaetano]

Thanks HR for this insightful dialogue. Excellent point about the importance of the relationship between S Korea and Japan. Hopefully the long memory of the Japanese occupation of S Korea has faded out in the younger generation. I saw a Korean drama with the theme. They also have a Progressive political group in S Korea that is willing to adopt the suicidal policies of open borders and receiving "refugees." Not sure of the strength of the party. If memory serves, there was a demonstration against taking in questionable refugees of 500, 000 in recent years.

I think the premise or mission of the series is excellent and will help those of us who watch to communicate to others some of the insights. Most don't have the patience for this format but that's OK if those of us who do, pass along the concepts to friends as I mentioned.

Saw the interview earlier today with Peter Robinson on BattleGrounds, positively excellent points in that discussion, and also looking forward to your earlier book Dereliction of Duty.

PS Suggest a name for the gathering place of the Good Fellows - A smokie bar I was in with my uncle in Boston's North End in the mid 1950's, being maybe 6 or 7 years old, 56 or 7.
the scene could have been right out of a Hollywood movie. My uncle always wore a grey fedora with black band, often a dark, blue, pin stripe suit and it was winter so a black overcoat, and drove a new, black Buick. The name: "The Blue Front Cafe"

Thanks again for all your work, Ciao

[zacharysalazar]

Finally, the eagle has landed. I repeat, the eagle has landed.

[CMoore]

I’m looking forward to reading this new book Battlegrounds. It sounds incredibly interesting!!!

[Steve-Richter]

Please address scenario where US withdraws all troops from Korea. How would the North be able to deny reunification if there were no outside threats or forces against them?