James Auer

Auer, senior lecturer of Asian studies, emeritus, died May 16, 2024 at age 82, as a result of complications from Parkinson’s disease. Read More

Rising tensions in the Korean peninsula have Japan, South Korea and the United States on full alert for a possible missile launch from North Korea. James Auer “A major worry now is North Korea’s young leader, who may not understand the constraints of reality that his grandfather and father… Read More

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is either leading his country’s military or being led by that military into a rhetorical battle with the United States, South Korea and Japan that he and his generals cannot win, according to James Auer, director of Vanderbilt’s Center for U.S.-Japan Studies and Cooperation. Read More

Vanderbilt is reaching out to those who may have been affected by the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan. Read More

James Auer, director, Center for U.S.-Japan Studies at Vanderbilt; retired naval commander, can discuss North Korea's military threats to Japan and the U.S. and the implications of their recent missile test. Auer was stationed in Japan and the Western Pacific during his naval career and was the special assistant on Japan with the office of the Secretary of Defense. He has written numerous articles and made presentations addressing East Asian security and defense policies. He is co-author of "Japan: America's New South Korea?" published in the journal Current History. He recently spoke at The National Defense Academy of Japan on "The Obama Administration and U.S. – Japan Defense Relations." Read More

The stage is set for Shinzo Abe to become Japan's new Prime Minister Sept. 26 following his election as the leader of the country's ruling party. Read More

The launching of several missiles by North Korea on July 4 could prompt Japan's leaders to increase defense and military spending, something China and North Korea would not like to see, according to James Auer, director of the Center for U.S-Japan Studies and Cooperation at Vanderbilt University. Read More

The nuclear threat posed by North Korea will be the focus of a lecture by former South Korean government official Chang Hee Kang Tuesday, Feb. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies. Read More