1. New Beginnings in the U.S.-ROK Alliance
David Straub
Associate Director, Korean Studies Program
Shorenstein Asia-Pacific Research Center
Stanford University

2. Outline What is the New Beginnings project? Why was it formed?
Who are its members?
How does it work?
What is its significance?
What are its recommendations?
Why a continuing project?

3. What is New Beginnings? U.S.-ROK policy study group
Announced January 2008
Led by Stanford APARC, Korea Society
Advises U.S. policymakers

4. Why was it formed? Update & strengthen bilateral relations
Concern about frictions
New opportunities

5. Who are its members? All Americans Non-partisan Ten members
Northeast Asia & Korea “hands”
Varied background
Four diplomats
Three academics & analysts
Two journalists
One military officer

6. Co-chairmen Gi-Wook Shin, Shorenstein APARC Dir.
Evans J.R. Revere, Korea Society Pres.
Aparc.stanford.edu

7. Members Michael H. Armacost, Amb. to Japan
Thomas C. Hubbard, Amb. to Korea
Charles L. “Jack” Pritchard, Amb. for North Korean Talks

8. Members Don Oberdorfer, journalist Daniel C. Sneider, journalist

9. Members Victor Cha, CSIS Korea Chair
Robert Carlin, North Korea Analyst

10. Former member Stephen W. Bosworth

11. How does it work?
Internal conferences

12. How does it work?
Meetings with U.S. and ROK officials

13. How does it work? Individual engagement
Informal communication among members

14. How does it work?
Public seminars

15. How does it work?
Reports to American policymakers
ksp.stanford.edu

16. What is its significance?
Reflects value U.S. places on ROK
Offers advice to U.S. policymakers
Shows parameters of U.S. thinking on Korean Peninsula affairs

17. What are its recommendations?
N. Korea: Never “accept” DPRK nukes
U.S.-ROK Alliance: Return OpCon
Economic cooperation: Approve FTA

18. Why a continuing project?
The alliance’s increasing importance
North Korean challenge
Rise of China
ROK’s regional/global role
The U.S. & the “rise of the rest”
Continued divisions within South Korea
Continued engagement required