Recent Publications

Trilateralism in the Wake of the 2022 Jolt Toward Bipolarity in the Indo-Pacific and World

Gil Rozman argues that trilateralism reached unprecedented levels in the first two decades of the 21st century. Russia, Japan, and South Korea each sought different triangular frameworks to position themselves at the pivot of great power relations in Northeast Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific region. However, Rozman contends that by…

ROK-US-Japan Trilateral Security Cooperation: Commitments, Progress, Opportunities & Challenges Ahead

Alex Soohoon Lee argues that security cooperation between the ROK, United States, and Japan is a key Indo-Pacific security framework given that the three countries represent one-third of the world economy and are among the top ten military powers. Lee first examines the historical context of trilateral security cooperation, before…

Camp David and US-Japan-ROK Trilateral Security and Defense Cooperation: Consolidating the Northeast Asia Anchor in the Indo-Pacific

Yasuyo Sakata provides a historical overview of US-Japan-ROK defense cooperation in Northeast Asia, from the Korean War to the Camp David Summit, explaining how the trilateral partnership was redefined as an Indo-Pacific partnership and incorporated the “Northeast Asia Anchor.” Sakata argues that Japan and the United States have taken the…

US-Japan-ROK Trilateral Cooperation in International Development: Global Trends, National Variations, Opportunities and Challenges

Jessica Liao seeks to address three key inquiries: what the Camp David Summit aimed to achieve in development cooperation; how the United States, Japan, and the ROK can fulfill their pledges; and the opportunities and challenges of this partnership. Furthermore, Liao assesses the development policies of the three countries and…

The Asian Triad at a Crossroads: Challenges and Prospects for South Korea- Japan-China Trilateral Cooperation

Seong-Hyon Lee argues that the trilateral relationship between South Korea, Japan, and China is currently at a critical juncture as historical legacies, territorial disputes, and the evolving geopolitical landscape pose significant challenges to meaningful cooperation and undermine future collaborative efforts among the three countries. Lingering animosity resulting from historical memory…

Enhancing Trilateral Security Cooperation: Korea, the United States, and Indonesia

Sook-yeon Lee argues that Indonesia serves as an ideal partner for the United States and South Korea to advance their objectives in the Indo-Pacific region and that the three countries should expand areas for trilateral cooperation. While the bilateral South Korea-Indonesia and US-Indonesia partnerships have deepened over the past several…

Opportunities for Cooperation between Vietnam, the United States, and the Republic of Korea: A Vietnamese Perspective

Vu Le Thai Hoang and Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc argue that the elevation of Vietnam-South Korea and US-Vietnam ties to comprehensive strategic partnerships has created new opportunities for trilateral cooperation. Historically, Vietnam has viewed trilateralism within its foreign policy principles of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralization. Vietnam not only ensures…

North Korea, Russia, and China: Past Cooperation & Future Prospects

Syd Seiler argues that recent developments in the relationship between North Korea, China, and Russia should be examined within the context of past interactions and North Korea’s geopolitical reality over the past several decades. North Korea’s pursuit of a distanced approach toward China and the Soviet Union during the Cold…

Korea Policy Volume 1 Issue 3 - Full Version

The Political Economy of National Security: Perspectives from the United States, Japan, Korea, and China

This introduction provides a broader framework for the first four papers in this issue of Korea Policy by examining five distinct ways or areas wherein trade and investment intersect with national security concerns. First, it looks at the extent to which the United States is politically capable of sustaining economic…