Japan Archive

Japan and South Korea have one of the most difficult relationships between partners in the modern international system. But recent meeting between the South Korean President and the Japanese Prime Minister has raised hopes that the two countries may finally be about to open a new chapter in the relations. But as others have pointed out, their history is littered with similar “new starts.” So, is this really different?

Many observers believed that the United States’ efforts to reorient its strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific region amid China’s resurgence had hit a snag when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. But for now, Washington may actually be accelerating its long-sought rebalance, recalibrating the center of gravity of U.S. foreign policy.