Junotane

My name is Jeffrey Robertson, aka Junotane. On this site, I write on foreign policy, diplomacy and the Korean Peninsula.

As an advisory warning, it’s direct, no holds barred, cutting commentary from in-country. It may offend. There’s no government baloney, no corporate cream, and no thinktank spruiking. Just free-thinking insight - commentary, analysis and fiction.

From here you can head on over to read About Junotane, including subscriptions and contact details; or you can head straight to the Writing section where you will find Analysis, Commentary, and Fiction on the Korean Peninsula and the the region.

Thanks for visiting and remember: be thankful, be nice, and help people - life is short :)

South Korea as an easy target for Trump
South Korea as an easy target for Trump

Event or Trend: Donald Trump's election victory has reignited concerns in South Korea over his approach to alliances.

2024 11 12

Trump won’t stop China taking Taiwan... or Korea
Trump won’t stop China taking Taiwan... or Korea

If there’s one thing South Korea has been able to count on (or not shake off) for decades, it’s the United States. The alliance between the two countries weathered wars, economic crises, and the perpetual threat posed by North Korea.

2024 11 11

South Korea’s presidential controversies pose risk
South Korea’s presidential controversies pose risk

The controversies surrounding South Korea’s first lady, Kim Keon-hee, and her alleged misconduct—ranging from luxury gift acceptance to political interference—have escalated.

2024 11 11

South Korea’s nuclear weapons debate
South Korea’s nuclear weapons debate

We’ve all been there: trapped in a conversation with someone who thinks they’ve cracked the geopolitical code, loudly proclaiming why South Korea must or must not develop nuclear weapons.

2024 11 11

South Korea’s ambassadorial appointments
South Korea’s ambassadorial appointments

South Korea follows the U.S. tradition with each presidential administration appointing its own ambassadors to key posts. This means that political allies, donors, or campaign supporters will take key ambassadorial roles.

2024 11 08

North Korean balloons filled with money and porn
North Korean balloons filled with money and porn

Fiction can be speculative but more often reflects reality from a different perspective. Either way, sorting fact with fiction builds creativity in strategic analysis.

2024 11 07

South Korea’s demographic crisis
South Korea’s demographic crisis

South Korea’s fertility rate, the lowest in the world, continues to decline, signaling a demographic crisis.

2024 11 05

South Korea’s public distrust of U.S. grows
South Korea’s public distrust of U.S. grows

A recent investigation by a popular media program has revisited U.S. surveillance on South Korea, and sparked significant public concern about U.S. intentions, challenging Yoon Administration efforts to strengthen the relationship.

2024 11 04

Thinking the unthinkable: The collapse of the ROK-US alliance
Thinking the unthinkable: The collapse of the ROK-US alliance

Could the Korea - U.S. alliance end? It seems impossible. Every U.S. official and every U.S. politician says it’s impossible. Strangely, you hear differently here in Seoul. In fact, very differently.

2024 11 03

South and North Korea’s military support in Ukraine
South and North Korea’s military support in Ukraine

In recent history, two global powers—first the United States in Iraq and later Russia in Ukraine—initiated conflicts that were widely regarded as controversial, if not outright illegal, by much of the international community.

2024 11 03