Rob Rapson
@robrapson.bsky.social
Retired U.S. diplomat, Korea/Asia specialist
Ditto Seoul…now reeling from the immigration raids at Hyundai/LG facilities in Georgia.
So desperate was Ishiba to lower Trump’s 25% tariffs to 15%…that he signed on to an incredible surrender regarding Tokyo’s promise for the government to invest $550 billion in the US.” Excoriating and alarming analysis from Richard Katz . open.substack.com/pub/richardk...
Ishiba “Gives Away The Store” to Trump
Pact Permits Trump To Impose New Tariffs if Japan Declines Any Of His Investment Schemes
open.substack.com
September 8, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Ditto Seoul…now reeling from the immigration raids at Hyundai/LG facilities in Georgia.
Reposted by Rob Rapson
My latest for KEI, on the rising discussion of the nuclear option, and "nuclear latency," among Korean progressives.
keia.org/the-peninsul...
keia.org/the-peninsul...
South Korea Mulls Nuclear Latency - Korea Economic Institute of America
Anxiety about the U.S. is opening conversations about reprocessing spent fuel from reactors to extract plutonium or even enrich uranium
keia.org
March 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
My latest for KEI, on the rising discussion of the nuclear option, and "nuclear latency," among Korean progressives.
keia.org/the-peninsul...
keia.org/the-peninsul...
As a Moon Blue House veteran and skilled trade negotiator, Kim Hyun-chong may be just the kind of national security advisor a prospective Lee Jae-myung admin needs in response to Trump 2.0 and a changing geopolitical landscape…or maybe not.
biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy...
biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy...
Lee Jae-myung strengthens party by appointing key Roh and Moon figures
Lee Jae-myung strengthens party by appointing key Roh and Moon figures
biz.chosun.com
February 7, 2025 at 5:22 PM
As a Moon Blue House veteran and skilled trade negotiator, Kim Hyun-chong may be just the kind of national security advisor a prospective Lee Jae-myung admin needs in response to Trump 2.0 and a changing geopolitical landscape…or maybe not.
biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy...
biz.chosun.com/en/en-policy...
Seoul undoubtedly watching Ishiba’s visit and outcomes very closely.
My preview of Trump's meeting today with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba:
Japan’s Ishiba faces balancing act in first meeting with Trump
Meeting comes as Trump ramps up pressure on US allies and partners
www.voanews.com
February 7, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Seoul undoubtedly watching Ishiba’s visit and outcomes very closely.
Undoubtedly, similar thinking, questions, and quiet discussions occurring elsewhere, including next door in the ROK.
Tobias Harris with a big-picture look at how Japanese politicians are debating how to navigate Trump's "America First" ideas.
Japan's choice
Competing visions for Japan in an America First world
observingjapan.substack.com
January 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Undoubtedly, similar thinking, questions, and quiet discussions occurring elsewhere, including next door in the ROK.
First post on Bluesky: See my comments for Yonhap’s piece today on prospects for Trump engagement with Kim Jong-un and possible implications for ROK…essentially same points I’ve been making since last September.
en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...
en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...
(News Focus) Trump might eye N.K. diplomacy not tightly linked to denuclearization, but conducive to stability: experts | Yonhap News Agency
By Song Sang-ho and Kang Byeong-cheol WASHINGTON, Jan. 24 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Don...
en.yna.co.kr
January 24, 2025 at 8:32 PM
First post on Bluesky: See my comments for Yonhap’s piece today on prospects for Trump engagement with Kim Jong-un and possible implications for ROK…essentially same points I’ve been making since last September.
en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...
en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...