Republican Foreign Policy Co-Sponsorship in the Second Trump Administration / Jongkon Lee
This study analyzes how Republican lawmakers’ co-sponsorship behavior varies across different areas of foreign policy in the 119th U.S. Congress, following the inauguration of the second Trump administration. In this article, foreign policy is categorized into three key domains: U.S.-alliance cooperation, trade and tariffs, and immigration and border control. For each domain, important bills were selected to compare patterns of co-sponsorship. Statistical analysis reveals that intra-party factional preferences differ significantly by policy area. U.S.-alliance cooperation issues, framed as redistributive policies, tend to receive stronger support from ideologically extreme factions such as Freedom Caucus. In contrast, trade and tariff policies—characterized as protective regulation—are mainly led by moderate factions like Republican Main Street Partnership, and lawmakers’ co-sponsorship behavior varies according to the industrial structure of their constituencies. Immigration and border control policies, however, receive broad support across the Republican Party regardless of factional conflict. Additionally, President Trump’s policy framing has partially reshaped intra-party dynamics and influenced the degree of legislative support among Republicans.
Keywords: US Congress, President Trump, Factional Politics, Foreign Policy, Bill Co-Sponsorship
Between Alliance and Autonomy, Again: The Limits of Europe’s Strategic Autonomy Debate under Trump 2.0. / Bee Yun Jo
Under Trump 2.0, Europe once again stands at a strategic crossroads between autonomy and alliance (extended deterrence). While existing discourses on NATO withdrawal, nuclear self-reliance, and a European nuclear umbrella are gaining momentum, this study argues that “strategic transformation” in Europe has yet to materialize. Instead of a clear shift toward autonomy, various deterrence measures are being pursued incrementally and concurrently within the existing framework. Delving into UK case, which has recently pledged ‘NATO-first’ strategy, opting to ‘strengthen within the alliance,’ this study argues that uncertainty surrounding alliances and extended deterrence does not necessarily lead to independent nuclear armament or the rupture of security ties. Rather, states tend to pursue status quo or multi-layered, gradual responses under structural constraints. This paper is structured as follows. First, it examines the reemergence of debates on the “Europeanization” of extended deterrence and strategic autonomy within Europe. To better depict Europe’s policy diversity, the study proposes an analytical framework grounded in neoclassical realism that maps the discourses along two axes: extended deterrence receptivity/confidence vis-a-vis strategic autonomy. Second, it investigates how these debates are reflected in actual policy implementation, using the UK as a case study. This study also briefly looks into France case. Finally, it draws implications for South Korea and the ROK-US alliance under Trump 2.0.
Keywords: Trump 2.0., NATO, Extended Deterrence, Autonomy, UK, France
Assessing the Impact of USFK Strategic Flexibility on South Korea : Policy Options for the New Administration / Ki-tae Park
This study analyzes the impacts of expanding U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) strategic flexibility and proposes policy responses for South Korea's new administration. Amid intensifying U.S.-China competition, the demand to use USFK for regional contingencies beyond the Korean Peninsula presents both opportunities and challenges for Seoul. This issue is analyzed through the lens of asymmetric alliance theory, focusing on the entrapment-abandonment dilemma. While it could enhance collective deterrence, it also risks weakening deterrence against North Korea and entangling Seoul in a great power conflict. This paper argues against the extremes of total rejection or unconditional acceptance, instead recommending a phased and conditional approach as a form of hedging strategy. Key policies should include reinforcing alliance consultation mechanisms to establish clear rules, defining strict conditions for any deployment such as prior ROK consent, and bolstering South Korea's own self-defense capabilities to mitigate risks and secure national interests.
Keywords: USFK, Strategic Flexibility, ROK-U.S. Alliance, Conditional Acceptance, Hedging Strategy, Asymmetric Alliance, Entrapment-Abandonment Dilemma, Indo-Pacific Strategy
The Formation and Development of Japan's Active Cyber Defense(ACD) Strategy: Focusing on the Introduction of ACD and the Japan-U.S. Cooperative Framework after the Russia-Ukraine War / Hye in Sim, Ji Young Kim
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has underscored cyberspace as a strategic domain of operations, parallel to traditional battlefields. In response, Japan revised its National Security Strategy in 2022, officially designating cyberspace as a core element of national security. This revision introduced the concept of Active Cyber Defense (ACD) into national policy and led to strengthened Japan-U.S. cyber cooperation. This paper analyzes the formulation and institutionalization of Japan’s ACD strategy, focusing on the structural shifts in Japan’s cybersecurity policy following the Russia-Ukraine war. The analysis finds that Japan is moving away from a traditionally reactive stance through legal reforms and enhanced publicprivate collaboration. These changes are interpreted not as a purely independent initiative, but rather as policy responses shaped by the evolving international security environment and strategic alignment with the United States. In addition, the institutionalization of ACD is expected to prompt Northeast Asian countries, including South Korea, to reconsider their cybersecurity strategies and undertake institutional reforms.
Keywords: Russia-Ukraine War, Japan’s Cybersecurity Policy, Active Cyber Defense (ACD), Japan-U.S. Alliance
Structural Reforms in South Korea for North Korean Information Openness in the AI Era / Seunghee Ha
This study provides an integrated analysis of the institutional, technological, and societal challenges associated with the opening and utilization of North Korean content in the era of artificial intelligence (AI). South Korea currently faces structural limitations that hinder the systematic collection and analysis of North Korean information due to legal constraints such as the National Security Act, copyright law, and the Special Materials Handling Guidelines. These limitations pose significant obstacles to the establishment of an AI-based information analysis ecosystem. At the same time, North Korea strategically intervenes in external perceptions through a dual information structure and sophisticated digital propaganda strategies. In this context, post-hoc blocking measures without a coordinated and structural approach prove insufficient for effective engagement. Accordingly, this paper proposes four key tasks: legal reform, strategic information opening, the development of AI analysis infrastructure, and the institutionalization of media and information literacy education. By moving beyond abstract and ideologically driven debates, this study aims to provide a concrete policy framework that reflects both North Korea’s strategic intentions and South Korea’s internal structural limitations.
Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, North Korea, Literacy, National Security Act, Special Materials Handling Guidelines, Copyright, Opening of North Korean Broadcasts
Geo-economic Return in International Relations? Critical Reviews and Suggestions / Ki-Hyun Bae
This article critically examines the trends and characteristics of the recent geo-economic turn in the studies of international relations. The changes in the balance of power due to the US-China competition, Asia's resurgence, and the rise of the Global South have revived discussions on the connection between economy and security, and experts have begun to pay attention to the use of geo-economic framework again. However, despite the quantitative increase in research publications using the framework, the concept has not been taken as a useful framework for more rigorous academic research. The article examines this with a focus on the analytical validity, the appropriateness of research design, and the expandability of the scope of research questions. With the critical review, this article proposes several issues that researchers can consider for the enhanced analytical value of the framework.
Keywords: Geo-economics, Economic Statecraft, Economic Security, International Relations, Conceptual Validity, Research Design
Can Polarized Politics Recede in the Face of Foreign Policy? The Effects of Ideological Orientation and Party Support on South Koreans’ Foreign Policy Preferences / Hyun Jin Choi, Sehee Lee
This study examines how ideological orientation and party support shape foreign policy preferences among South Korean voters, based on nationally representative survey data. While some issues reveal clear partisan and ideological divides, there is also considerable room for bipartisan consensus. Broad agreement was found on the importance of the ROK-U.S. alliance, trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan, sanctions against North Korea, and skepticism toward North Korean denuclearization. Views on South Korea’s nuclear armament also show signs of convergence. In contrast, support for economic and humanitarian aid to North Korea remains sharply divided. These results suggest that foreign policy debates at the elite level do not always reflect public opinion.
Accordingly, policymakers should refrain from fueling unnecessary polarization in foreign affairs and instead pursue strategic decisions that reflect stable public preferences.
Keywords: Foreign Policy, Ideology, Party Support