Against the backdrop of growing inter-Korean alignment and possible changes to the U.S.–ROK alliance, this essay reexamines Japan’s security strategy.
It reflects on widening value gaps over historical issues, territorial disputes, and symbolic controversies, and questions how Japan should position South Korea in its long-term national strategy.

2019-01-12
History textbooks, Takeshima (Okinoshima Town, Shimane Prefecture), the comfort women issue, Yasukuni Shrine, the naming of the Sea of Japan, the Self-Defense Forces ensign (the Rising Sun flag)… a neighboring country that raises objections to everything and shares neither our values nor aesthetic sensibilities.
The following is a continuation of the previous chapter.
Drawn into North Korea.
According to this paper, “Japan’s consistent and fundamental national strategy has been to prevent the Korean Peninsula, especially its southern part, from falling into the hands of hostile forces.”
It further points out that “this has been ensured by the alliance between the United States and South Korea and by the presence of U.S. Forces Korea.”
However, the current Moon Jae-in administration in South Korea appears to be increasingly aligned and integrated with North Korea, which had been considered a hostile force.
President Trump, who decided to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria, has also placed the withdrawal of U.S. Forces Korea within the realm of consideration.
President Moon himself likely believes that U.S. Forces Korea will eventually become unnecessary.
If the United States were to withdraw from the Korean Peninsula and the U.S.–ROK alliance were to disappear, what would South Korea mean for Japan.
It would be difficult to continue placing importance on a neighboring country that challenges Japan on history textbooks, Takeshima, comfort women, Yasukuni Shrine, the Sea of Japan designation, and the Rising Sun flag, and that does not share common values or aesthetic sensibilities.
(Editorial Board Member and Political Editor)