U.S.-ROK summits in historical perspective

The U.S.-Republic of Korea presidential summit on October 16 is expected to generate a lot of international attention with regards to North Korea, China, and other pressing areas of cooperation. More importantly, as it has in recent years, the upcoming summit will serve as the stage where both nations reaffirm their alliance, bounded by decades of cooperation and common interests.

On October 13, the Center for East Asia Policy Studies hosted a discussion on the state of U.S.-Korea relations and past U.S.-ROK presidential summits. The speakers helped frame the upcoming visit by President Park Geun-hye and explored the evolution of the bilateral relationship. Panelists included James Person of the Center for Korean History and Public Policy; Duyeon Kim of the Carnegie Endowment; and Brookings Senior Fellow Katharine H.S. Moon, and Emma Chanlett-Avery of the Congressional Research Service moderated the discussion.