Korea Policy Vol. 2, Issue 1

Korea Policy Volume 2 Issue 1 – Full Version

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…