Japan and South Korea have made moves to strengthen relations in the face of security threats throughout Asia. South Korean President Yoon Suk – Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met at a summit in Seoul to discuss growing threats presented by North Korean development of nuclear arms and missiles. Although ties between the two nations have been strained in recent years as a result of labor issues, the leaders have resolved to put the past behind them and deepen their alliance, which has been illustrated by reciprocal visits on the part of Suk – Yeol and Fumio. The intent of securing their nations against North Korea has been made clear by both Japan and South Korea, and they assert that their cooperation will benefit regional and global peace. Both leaders plan to fold China into their partnership as well. Additionally, the leaders have expressed that they will strive to maintain US interests in the region, as they believe that “Their military and economic capabilities are crucial for promoting multilateral regional security cooperation, and a poor relationship between the two countries could obstruct US objectives,”.
This strengthening relationship between Japan and South Korea holds lots of importance in the region, especially when taking into account the goals of this partnership: regional peace and security against North Korea specifically. The two countries are attempting to create a group of nations within Asia that are friendly to each other and in opposition to North Korea, which could escalate tensions between North Korea and its neighboring states. Additionally, this growing sentiment expands beyond Asia. Japan and South Korea have expressed their concern for the soundness of American interest in their region, and have acknowledged the importance of maintaining positive relations within the region so as to keep the US involved and content.
In International Relations, we have discussed the various systems of power on the global level throughout history. The world has shifted from multipolar to bipolar to unipolar, which means that the United States now serves as the sole global superpower. This is being illustrated in the article that pertains to the relationship between countries in Asia, as it shows how much influence the US has in a region halfway across the world. Being the unipolar power means that the US can essentially do whatever it wants, and other nations are acknowledging this by protecting American interests in their corners of the world.