The U.S. and Korea in the Biden Administration

Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs

Korean Peninsula Affairs Center presents

The U.S. and Korea in the Biden Administration

The U.S.-South Korea alliance is among America’s most successful alliances. The Biden Administration has pledged renewed attention to rejuvenating relations with South Korea and other allies following the devaluing of alliances during the Trump years and ongoing changes in the global environment. What is on the U.S. to-do list with South Korea? On North Korea, what is the legacy of Trump’s precedent-breaking approach, and where does the U.S. go from here in pursuing denuclearization, security and reconciliation on the Korean Peninsula?

Amb. Kathleen Stephens 

President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute (KEI)

Kathleen Stephens is a former American diplomat who served as U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea from 2008-2011. Other overseas assignments included postings to China, former Yugoslavia, Portugal, Northern Ireland, where she was U.S. Consul General in Belfast, and India as the U.S. Charge ‘d Affaires (2014-2015). Stephens also served in a number of policy positions at the Department of State and the White House. These included acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs (2012), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs (2005-2007), Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs (2003-2005), and National Security Council Director for European Affairs at the Clinton White House. She was William J. Perry Fellow for Korea at Stanford University 2015-2018. She is a Mansfield Foundation Distinguished Fellow, Pacific Century Institute board chairman, The Asia Foundation vice-chair of the board of trustees, and The Korea Society board chair. She has been President and CEO of the Korea Economic Institute since September 2018.

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