The U.S. and Korea: Unfinished Story 

15th Tsai Lecture
The Honorable Kathleen Stephens, Former U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, 2008-2011; President and CEO, Korea Economics Institute of America (KEI) 

With introductions by: Professor Sun Joo Kim, Harvard-Yenching Professor of Korean History; Director, Korea Institute Professor

Chair: James Robson, James C. Kralik and Yunli Lou Professor of East Asian Languages and Civilizations; Victor and William Fung Director, Harvard University Asia Center 

Sponsored by the Tsai Lecture Fund at the Harvard University Asia Center; co-sponsored by the Kim Koo Forum on US-Korea Relations at the Korea Institute, Harvard University 

Precis: The United States has been deeply involved in Korea's modern journey. The U.S.-South Korea alliance has broadened and deepened over the years, contributing not only to South Korea's economic and democratic rise but to stability and prosperity in Northeast Asia. However, U.S. and international efforts to pressure or persuade North Korea to choose a path away from nuclear weapons have to date been unsuccessful. Former U.S. Ambassador to South Korea Kathleen Stephens will draw on her decades-long experience in Korean affairs to discuss the challenges in the U.S.-Korea relationship today, including the task of denuclearization and peace on the Korean peninsula, and managing trade relations at a time of heightened U.S.-China tensions and a downgrading of South Korea-Japan relations. Is the U.S.-South Korea alliance a Cold War anachronism, unable to weather the era of China Rising, America First, and Korea’s own nationalist moment? Will South Korea have to “choose” between China and the U.S., and if so, what will it choose? Is the “blood-forged” alliance with South Korea a burden or a benefit to the United States? And will North Korea ever peacefully give up its weapons?