Limits and Prospects of Trilateral Cooperation among the United States, ROK and Japan : a Korean Perspective

초록

Limits and Prospects of Trilateral Cooperation among the United States, ROK and Japan : a Korean Perspective Jean Young Lee (Inha University) The purpose of this article is to discuss the limitations and prospects of the trilateral cooperation among the United States(US), Republic of Korea(ROK) and Japan. Recently there has been a military radar dispute between Korea and Japan. Also, the issue of past history such as comfort women is steadily rising. In the conflicts between Korea and Japan, roles of the US such as mediation or intervention are being requested. At what stage is the trilateral cooperation now? This study argues that the current trilateral cooperation is not in fact progressing. First, it is due to changes in US national interests and policies. The Trump government, which claims America First Policy, is moving the center of Asia policy from Northeast Asia to the Indo-Pacific Region. As a result, the basic goal of a trilateral cooperation to contain China and North Korea is threatened. The United States, in particular, is in a position to allow conflicts between Korea and Japan rather than mediate or intervene. This is because it can maximize US interests. This is also connected to the recognition that bilateral relations are more effective in diplomacy than multilateral relations, which is the second reason. Northeast Asian countries, such as relations between the US and North Korea, China and North Korea, and South-North Korea relations, favor bilateral relations. The third point is that as nationalism is used as a useful tool in the domestic politics of Korea and Japan, the conflict between the two countries is intensifying. The Korean society's perception is that the Abe government is using the disputes as a means of maintaining the regime. Japan also thinks that the Korean government is constantly raising the issue of past history that is contrary to international legal principles and hinders future-oriented relations. Fin