Rob Rapson

Japan's new political force Sanae Takaichi’s decisive election victory reflects broader global trends – a rightward shift in politics and a new, unapologetic nationalism.

Some thoughts on #Japan’s recent and remarkable general election and #Takaichi Sanae’s extraordinary victory.

engelsbergideas.com/notebook/jap...

Ex-U.S. diplomat stresses need for 'legal pathways' for Korean firms to deploy technical staff to U.S. | Yonhap News Agency By Song Sang-ho WASHINGTON, Sept. 8 (Yonhap) -- A former U.S. diplomat underscored the n...

en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN2025...

Ditto Seoul…now reeling from the immigration raids at Hyundai/LG facilities in Georgia.

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

My latest for KEI, on the rising discussion of the nuclear option, and "nuclear latency," among Korean progressives.
keia.org/the-peninsul...

Lee Jae-myung strengthens party by appointing key Roh and Moon figures Lee Jae-myung strengthens party by appointing key Roh and Moon figures

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...

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.

(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...

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...