Is China truly the security threat in Asia that Washington seems convinced it is? David Kang doesn’t think so, and he points the actions of the Koreas and others as evidence that states in the region are calibrated to a world in which China does not need to be balanced against.
On this week’s podcast, Dr. Kang explains how this fundamental misunderstanding of the security calculus spills over into the North Korea issue, explores the top-down engagement approach currently favored by U.S. and North Korean leaders, and how decision-makers can better align policy to more accurately reflect the reality on the ground.
David C. Kang is Professor of International Relations and Business at the University of Southern California, with appointments in both the School of International Relations and the Marshall School of Business. He is also Director of USC Korean Studies Institute and Director of the USC Center for International Studies.
About the podcast: The “North Korea News Podcast” is a weekly podcast hosted exclusively by NK News, covering all things DPRK: from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field and insight from our very own journalists.
Featured image: The White House