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April 16, 2024
 

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Scott Snyder
For Scott Snyder's latest contributions to The Japan Times, see below:
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 2, 2009
The impossible idealist of Seoul
HONOLULU — The death of Roh Moo Hyun, the 16th president of the Republic of Korea (2003-2008), is a huge shock to South Korea's political world. A human rights lawyer with no college degree, Roh campaigned to revolutionize Korean politics and society by promoting clean politics, fighting corruption and challenging personal and elite ties as the basis for advancement in Korean society.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 21, 2008
Keep pressuring Pyongyang
HONOLULU (Scott Snyder is a senior associate of the Pacific Forum CSIS. This article was originally published in PacNet Newsletter.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 14, 2008
Chinese views on North Korea
In recent years, issues pertaining to North Korea have been hotly debated by Chinese institute researchers. The publication of conflicting views in authoritative media suggests that these debates are sanctioned by the Chinese leadership.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 30, 2006
Reshaping U.S.-ROK alliance
HONOLULU -- The U.S.-South Korea alliance is at a turning point. South Korea has become a modern, vibrant democracy and a dynamic economy with global reach. Despite the nuclear crisis with North Korea, inter-Korean reconciliation has taken root and South Korea feels confident enough to seek a more independent stance vis-a-vis its neighbors. This confidence has exposed a real divide in views in Washington and Seoul about China, North Korea and Japan.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 14, 2005
Tokyo-Seoul rift threatens U.S. interest
WASHINGTON -- Despite efforts during last month's summit between South Korean President Roh Moo Hyun and President George W. Bush in Washington to speak with "one voice" about the health of the alliance and to improve policy coordination toward North Korea, the summit saw the emergence of a potentially serious new area of divergence between American and South Korean allies: the role and future of Japan.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 25, 2005
Enough blame to go around
HONOLULU -- Deteriorating relations among Japan, South Korea and China underscore the failure of leadership in all three countries. Recent events have triggered a downward spiral in relations, but this shift hasn't occurred in a vacuum. All three governments share the primary burden to set a strategic vision that promotes cooperation over conflict; the United States can contribute by providing reassurance to the three.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 31, 2005
No exception for Pyongyang
HONOLULU -- No issue more clearly illustrates the chasm in public perceptions that has developed between the United States and South Korea than the issue of human rights in North Korea.
COMMENTARY / World
May 22, 2001
Begrudgingly, Bush endorses dialogue
SEOUL -- U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage's meeting with South Korean President Kim Dae Jung last week clearly signaled that the United States will renew bilateral negotiations with North Korea, affirming similar assurances given by Assistant Secretary of State James Kelly at his April 26 confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill.
COMMENTARY / World
May 21, 2001
Settling Asia's sea of disputes
Last month's spy-plane incident between the United States and China inadvertently highlighted South China Sea territorial disputes as a focal point of possible international confrontation. Although the incident is viewed primarily through the lens of U.S.-China relations, it demonstrates the international stake that nonclaimants have in upholding the principles of freedom of navigation in international air space and waters of this vital waterway -- over half of all the world's oil now passes through the South China Sea from the Middle East to Asia.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 8, 2000
The outlook after 100 days
The June summit in Pyongyang kicked off a summer of symbolic and historic "firsts" on the Korean Peninsula, marked by the dramatic symbolism of inter-Korean reconciliation after more than five decades of stalemate. Sufficient time has now passed to evaluate what might be called the "honeymoon period" -- the first hundred days of an unfolding peace process that will require considerable political will and the making of some hard choices if it is to be sustained and consolidated. One need only turn to recent events in the Middle East or Northern Ireland to recognize that maintaining momentum in a peace process is hard work in which setbacks, detours and reverses are not uncommon. And domestic political support is an essential prerequisite for progress.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 22, 2000
Breakthrough or breakdown?
Last week's dramatic announcement of an inter-Korean summit provides an opportunity to test the momentum created by North Korea's pragmatic attempt to develop new relationships with the outside world. South Korean President Kim Dae Jung's "sunshine" policy has supported Pyongyang's own apparent efforts to reach out to the international community. It is only fitting that North Korea reciprocate by acknowledging the South as a legitimate counterpart and the likely main partner in achieving economic rehabilitation.
COMMENTARY / World
Feb 28, 1999
Avoiding a N. Korean crisis
Will 1999 bring the second North Korean nuclear crisis in five years, perhaps leading to a military confrontation similar to the recent U.S. attack on Iraq, or can such a confrontation be avoided? Although heightened tensions may be inevitable in the coming months, the ability of policymakers in Washington, Seoul, Tokyo and Beijing to develop a coordinated response to these threats will determine the success or failure of diplomacy with Pyongyang.
Japan’s young workers head abroad as huge wage gap persists
The departure hall at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. Now with inflation at its strongest in decades, Japanese are starting to realize that years of static wages leave many of them budgeting each month before their next pay check.
EVs head for junkyard as mechanic shortage inflates repair costs
An AA patrol for electric vehicles in Birmingham, England. Fewer than 10% of the U.K.’s 236,000 auto mechanics are qualified to work directly on EV batteries or their cases, according to the Institute of the Motor Industry.
Japan strongly condemns Iranian attack on Israel as 'escalation'
Missiles are showcased in a parade marking Iran's National Army Day in Tehran on April 18, 2023.
Worries remain one year to go before Osaka Expo
Construction at Yumeshima island, the venue for the Osaka Expo
How ‘winged’ gyōza took flight from a Tokyo suburb
The creator of "hanetsuki gyōza" is Isao Yagi, and his restaurant, Nihao, can be found right on the border of Tokyo and Kawasaki in Ota Ward.
For Modi, the Indian election is less about winning and more about by how much
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses supporters during an election campaign rally in Pushkar, India, on April 6, ahead of the country's upcoming general election starting Friday.
Akebono's human side eclipsed his incredible sumo achievements
The heights Akebono reached in sumo helped pave the way for future foreign-born yokozuna Asashoryu and Hakuho.
Ohtani’s dizzying three weeks end in exoneration by authorities
Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter Shohei Ohtani during a spring training game on March 12.
How ‘winged’ gyōza took flight from a Tokyo suburb
The creator of "hanetsuki gyōza" is Isao Yagi, and his restaurant, Nihao, can be found right on the border of Tokyo and Kawasaki in Ota Ward.
How Ippei Mizuhara allegedly wired millions from Shohei Ohtani’s account
Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani and his interpreter, Ippei Mizuhara, in December at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California

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