U.S.-Japan Partners Both Changed… “Will Continue Trilateral Security Cooperation”

Prospects for cooperation between the Yoon administration, the U.S., and Japan, Kishida cites improvement in relations between South Korea and Japan
Low likelihood of overturning the Indo-Pacific strategy
Response to historical issues by the next Prime Minister remains a variable,
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President Yoon Suk-yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a joint press conference of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan on August 18, 2023 (local time) at Camp David near Washington DC in the U.S. President’s Lodge. Presidential Office, ‘Following U.S. President Joe Biden, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida also decided not to seek re-election, resulting in a change for all partners in the framework of cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan that had been synchronized with the Yoon administration. Despite this, there are expectations that the positive momentum, including the improvement in South Korea-Japan relations, will continue, along with moves in trilateral security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.’,
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, ‘Professor Cho Yang-hyun of the National Diplomatic Academy stated on the 14th that “the basic trend of international politics, including the key role of the Indo-Pacific region in the context of U.S.-China competition, and the collaboration among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, will continue, explaining that South Korea-Japan relations and trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan will also progress.” However, he added, “There is uncertainty related to individual leaders’ factors and personal relationships among South Korea, Japan, and the U.S., but these need to be managed diplomatically.”.’,
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, ‘ MobileAdNew center ‘, ‘Professor Park Won-kon of Ewha Womans University also mentioned that “One of Japan’s strengths is its continuity in foreign policy,” stating, “There is almost no possibility of reversing the foreign policy based on the Indo-Pacific strategy drawn since the era of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.” He continued, “In the case of the U.S., if former President Donald Trump returns to power, he could be a variable, but fundamentally shaking the structure of trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan in the context of countering China or demanding more costs will not be easy.”‘,
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, ‘President Yoon Suk-yeol resumed “shuttle diplomacy” with Prime Minister Kishida last year, strengthening trilateral cooperation through the South Korea-U.S.-Japan summit. During a press conference on the same day, Prime Minister Kishida cited the improvement in South Korea-Japan relations as one of the achievements, emphasizing, “Next year marks the 60th anniversary of normalization of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan, so we must further solidify the normalization of South Korea-Japan relations.”‘,
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, ‘Earlier, Defense Minister Sin Won-sik, after holding a South Korea-U.S.-Japan Defense Ministers’ Meeting in Tokyo on August 28, stated regarding the trilateral security cooperation, “If it was formed based on the characteristics of a specific regime, it may change with a change in regime, but I believe that it will continue without major disruption as a situation where each of the three countries benefits from it.”.’,
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, ‘Professor Yang Ki-ho of Sungkonghoe University pointed out, “Japan, fundamentally prioritizing the U.S.-Japan alliance and the Indo-Pacific region, shows a very positive attitude towards security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan,” but added, “However, Japan may not be able to meet our expectations on historical issues to a large extent.”\n’