James Minnich

James Minnich is an authority on Indo-Pacific security, North Korea and Korean Peninsula affairs.

Since 2016, Minnich has been Professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, where he previously served as Associate Dean. He retired from the US Army as a Colonel after 37 years of active service. During that time, he spent 15 years in Korea and built extensive experience across Northeast Asia.

Throughout his military career, Minnich held senior operational and policy roles in Korea and Afghanistan. His appointments included Secretary of the United Nations Command Military Armistice Commission, Deputy Director and Acting Director of the Security Assistance Office in Afghanistan, Senior Country Program Director for Afghanistan, Deputy Chief and Director of JUSMAG-Korea, and Chief of the Policy Branch at United States Forces Korea. He also commanded field artillery formations across airborne, air assault, light and mechanised units.

Today, James Minnich’s research focuses on Indo-Pacific security, strategic competition, North Korea, deterrence and regional stability. He examines how geopolitical rivalry, military modernisation and emerging technologies are reshaping the region’s security landscape.

Beyond his research, Minnich hosts and produces Dialogue, the Asia-Pacific Center’s platform for discussions on Indo-Pacific security. He leads conversations with senior policymakers, military leaders and subject matter experts. He also co-hosts Strategic Voices, a podcast exploring the ideas and policy debates shaping the region.

Minnich is the editor of The Indo-Pacific Mosaic (2025) and the author of The North Korean People’s Army and The Denuclearisation of North Korea. Drawing on decades of first-hand experience, his work is widely read by scholars, defence professionals and policymakers seeking deeper insight into North Korea and the Indo-Pacific security environment.

Fluent in Korean, James Minnich holds a Doctor of Education from the University of Southern California and a Master’s degree in Regional Studies–East Asia from Harvard University. He also completed advanced military and Korean language studies in both the United States and South Korea.