Between Caution and Cooperation: The ROK-Japan Security Relationship in the Post-Cold War Period

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine bilateral security cooperation between South Korea and Japan in the foreseeable future. In so doing, the paper discusses four possible patterns of the ROK-Japan security relationship, which vary in accordance with US East Asia policy and the overall level of ROK-Japan relations. The newly evolving security environment in East Asia requires both South Korea and Japan to establish closer bilateral security cooperation than before. For instance, Seoul and Tokyo need to cooperate with each other to deal with the North Korean problem because Pyongyang poses a common threat by recently developing weapons of mass destruction and long-range missiles. As the newly defined US-Japan alliance, which has been enlarged to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, allows Japan to take an expanded security role around the Korean peninsula, the two countries have to increase bilateral security talks with regard to possible US-Japan joint contingency plans near the peninsula. As a matter of fact, there has been an increase in bilateral security talks and military exchanges between the two countries in recent years. However, there is an important factor that affects the bilateral security relationship between Seoul and Tokyo. Due to the historical fact that the Japanese colonial rule inflicted much pain upon Korea, it has been difficult for the two countries to establish sound and normal relations. This historical legacy has hampered security cooperation between the two countries so far. There are four different scenarios for a future bilateral security relationship between South Korea and Japan: US-ROK-Japan trilateral cooperation, loose cooperation under US bilateral alliances, direct bilateral cooperation, and multilateral cooperation. Among these scenarios, it is the trilateral security cooperation that is most likely and most desirable for the future security relationship between Seoul and Tokyo. The US forward presence has been pivotal to maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The US bilateral alliances will continue to function as the foundation of East Asian security for many years to come. South Korea and Japan also need to further their security ties in order to cope with newly emerging security challenges in the post-Cold War period. However, ROK-Japan bilateral security cooperation should be based on their US bilateral alliances. Considering the long-standing historical legacy in the ROK-Japan relations, for the time being they have difficulty establishing direct security ties such as a mutual security treaty or joint military exercises. Consequently, through a trilateral security relationship with the United States as an axis, South Korea and Japan can promote confidence-building measures in each other`s military policies and cooperate with each other to meet common security challenges in the post-Cold War period. Multilateral security cooperation is another form of security cooperation between South Korea and Japan. Through the multilateral security cooperation framework, the two countries can enhance mutual understanding of each other`s security policies and discuss common security issues that cannot be easily solved unilaterally or bilaterally. However, the multilateral framework should supplement, not supplant, the US bilateral alliances which are pivotal to maintaining the overall balance of power in the East Asian region.