Us-korea-japan: Evolving Ties
With relations fraught between the US and Northeastern Asian allies Japan and South Korea, it helps to re-examine the historical and contemporary dimensions of the trilateral relationship. Kim offers an innovative model of a “triangular hierarchy” structured around two formal alliances between the US and Japan and the US and South Korea, and an informal partnership between Japan and South Korea.
The US has been the dominant actor, intervening periodically via diplomatic lobbying, coercive application of economic and security power, moral suasion, legalistic interpretations, business intermediation, and occasionally by an explicit policy of non-intervention. Kim sees Japan as the more capable middle power. But with South Korea moving into a relatively more influential position economically after joining the OECD in 1996, their relationship has become less asymmetrical over time. In parallel, a changing post-cold War context, along with domestic change, has amplified contentious historical issues rooted in national identity politics. Kim’s post-1945 case-study approach, backed by trilingual sources, offers a nuanced and valuable reading of trilateralism. Less clear is advice for policymakers on resetting today’s relationship while combating the persistent emotionalism that too often limits both alliances and the partnership.