Rephonic
Artwork for The Impossible State
North Korea
South Korea
China
Russia
United States
Ukraine
Japan
U.s.-Rok Alliance
Trump Administration
NATO
Economic Security
U.S. National Security
Nuclear Weapons
Biden Administration
Indo-Pacific
Donald Trump
DPRK Policy
Sanctions
Deterrence
National Defense

North Korea is the Impossible State. Each episode, join the people who know the most about North Korea for an insiders’ discussion with host Victor Cha about one of the United States’ top national security priorities.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes158Founded8 years ago
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Artwork for The Impossible State

Latest Episodes

Dr. Victor Cha, Igor Khrestin, Joseph Kim, and Dr. Maria Snegovaya joined host Will Todman to discuss CRINK’s key vulnerabilities and examine U.S. policy recommendations for addressing the challenges the grouping poses to democracy, human rights, eco... more

YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha, Dr. Edward Howell, and Mr. Sydney Seiler discussed North Korea's relationships with the CRINK countries and examine Beijing’s priorities heading into an imminent Xi-Kim summit.

YouTube

In this episode, Mr. Sydney Seiler moderated a discussion with Ambassador Joseph Yun and Mr. Adam Farrar to examine the new frameworks proposed in Dr. Victor Cha’s recent Foreign Affairs article, “North Korea as It Is: The Case for a Cold Peace,” and... more

YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Jieun Baek discussed her new book, Privileged but Powerless: How North Korean Elite Grievances Reveal the Regime’s Greatest Weakness, and examined how grievances among North Korea’s elites may shape the regime’... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Joseph Yun
Ambassador, former Special Representative for North Korea Policy
Bloomberg/White House background
Episode: Cold Peace: Engaging DPRK to Reduce Risk and Threat
Adam R. Farrar
Former Korea and Mongolia director, Bloomberg journalist
Bloomberg
Episode: Cold Peace: Engaging DPRK to Reduce Risk and Threat
Jieun Baek
Author of Privileged but Powerless; non-resident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council
Atlantic Council
Episode: Privileged But Powerless
Jonathan Cheng
China Bureau Chief for The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
Episode: Korean Messiah
Zach Cooper
Senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute; CSIS alum
American Enterprise Institute (AEI); CSIS
Episode: Is the Pivot to Asia Dead?
Kristi Govella
Senior Advisor in Japan Chair at CSIS; Professor of Japanese Studies
CSIS
Episode: Is the Pivot to Asia Dead?
Timothy Martin
Bureau Chief for the Wall Street Journal in Seoul
Wall Street Journal
Episode: The BTS Homecoming: Does Korea's Soft Power Work?
Jinaeng Choi
Assistant Professor in the Department of East Asian Languages and Cultures
Georgetown University
Episode: The BTS Homecoming: Does Korea's Soft Power Work?
Ki-Wook Shin
Professor and author of The Four Talent Giants
Stanford University
Episode: The Four Talent Giants

Host

Victor Cha
Host of The Impossible State

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 202 ratings
  • Excellent

    Excellent and very topical podcast, which analyzes policy and current events from a variety of different perspectives. While on the whole very good, there are a few guests, like Zenobia Chan from Georgetown, who will actively parrot CCP propaganda without irony.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Joshua Xi
    United States6 months ago
  • Very, Very Good

    This show excels at covering the Korean Peninsula and the sphere relevant to it. Indispensable information and analysis; just top notch.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States2 years ago
  • Very, Very Good

    This show excels at covering the Korean Peninsula and the sphere relevant to it. Indispensable information and analysis; just top notch. I do miss Sue.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RJG179
    United States3 years ago
  • Awesome

    Podcast Addict
    5
    DaniDani
    4 years ago
  • Awesome

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Dani
    4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Broad, credible guest pool; audience gets credible insider perspectives.
Insightful, topical policy analysis from diverse experts.
Very informative; strong on North Korea and Indo-Pacific issues.
Valuable deep dives on NK and regional security.
Diverse guest roster but some critics note occasional bias in guest selection.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#112
United States/Government
Apple Podcasts
#82
United Kingdom/Government
Apple Podcasts
#105
Canada/Government
Apple Podcasts
#89
Italy/Government
Apple Podcasts
#180
France/Government
Apple Podcasts
#200
Australia/Government

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Privileged But Powerless
Q: Why are elite defections increasing under Kim Jong Un, and what factors contribute to this trend?
Purges, unprecedented information access, the lure of money, and family dynamics are driving elites to defect, as they reassess risk and seek better futures for themselves and their children.
Privileged But Powerless
Q: How does the book describe the daily life and motivations of the elite?
The elites live a lifestyle of visible luxury and loyalty rituals, but performative loyalty and fear of punishment drive most actions; money, information access, and family concerns shape their choices beyond ideology.
Privileged But Powerless
Q: What is the core vulnerability of the North Korean regime according to your research?
The core vulnerability lies in the elites' fear and grievances, particularly the fear of unexpected execution for themselves and their families, which undermines the stability supposedly provided by their loyalty and privilege.
Is the Pivot to Asia Dead?
Q: With Japan and Korea facing strategic tradeoffs, what kind of support or signaling do they need from the United States as their region grows more contested?
Japan and Korea seek assurances about U.S. commitment, while they want to contribute to regional stability; conversations suggest they may participate in specific measures (e.g., missile production support, economic security initiatives) but will weigh domestic political costs heavily.
Is the Pivot to Asia Dead?
Q: What has been the role of TPP and the move to CPTPP in shaping US economic engagement in Asia, and why did the strong political will wane?
TPP was central to linking economic strategy with security commitments; shifting public opinion toward economic nationalism derailed it, and even after Trump withdrew from TPP, the Biden administration had difficulty reigniting a broad, economically focused Asia strategy.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Impossible State

What is The Impossible State about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show provides insider-level discussions on North Korea and Northeast Asian security, drawing on a revolving cast of policy experts, diplomats, and scholars to unpack how Pyongyang, Seoul, and Washington approach diplomacy, deterrence, and sanctions. Episodes often blend historical context with current events, exploring topics from elite politics inside North Korea to US-ROK alliance dynamics, regional power projections, and the role of soft power and diplomacy in shaping strategy. Noteworthy strengths include access to CSIS and university-affiliated researchers, a clear focus on practical policy levers, and a willingness to tackle nuanced, sometimes controversial, topics with depth and expertise. Potential listeners and guests can expec... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Impossible State?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Impossible State:

1. The Asia Chessboard
2. Pekingology
3. ChinaPower
4. Russian Roulette
5. Asia Geopolitics

How many episodes of The Impossible State are there?

The Impossible State launched 8 years ago and published 158 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Impossible State?

Recent guests on The Impossible State include:

1. Joseph Yun
2. Adam R. Farrar
3. Jieun Baek
4. Jonathan Cheng
5. Zach Cooper
6. Kristi Govella
7. Timothy Martin
8. Jinaeng Choi

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