The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea have been at war with one another since 1950, though open conflict ended in 1953 with a truce. During this time, the DPRK has been developing nuclear weapons and forming increasingly strained relations with the rest of the world. Another major player in the region, Japan, has reached a deal with the ROK that was expected back in 2012 and will provide for intelligence sharing between the two with regards to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s missile and nuclear activities. This deal has received push back from South Korean opposition parties and they have threatened to impeach the South Korean Defense Minister, Han Min-koo. Though Japan and the Republic of Korea have had strained relations in the past due to colonialism and territorial dispute, these countries have found it increasingly necessary to collaborate. Many have speculated that this deal and other talks between the two countries have been, in part, in response to the election of Donald Trump. Having claimed he will reevaluate military alliances and call upon countries to contribute more, countries such as Japan and South Korea are being forced to reevaluate their relationships with other nations and consider the possibility of more nations with nuclear capabilities, fearing an end to American military support in the region, support that many believe keeps the DPRK at bay.
