The United States and South Korea: Who Does What if the North Fails?

The uncertainties surrounding Kim Jong-un's leadership need sustained attention, as does their potential impact on the peninsula. For one thing, the Obama administration's pivot to Asia makes clear the more prominent posture intended for US forces there, including in Korea, where US military capabilities still represent the tip of the deterrent spear. The responsibilities that will fall on US shoulders if the North collapses will add immeasurably to that position. Indeed, after a decade of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan that have consumed thousands of lives and trillions of dollars, the need for Americans to understand their role, including its risks and potential costs, has never been greater. Here, Harrington and Ramberg examine whether the US should remain the centerpiece in dealing with North Korea's potential collapse.