Washington exasperated over Japan-South Korea disagreements

A MEETING of the influential Heritage Foundation offered rare criticism of US allies in Northeast Asia, as former high-level US officials and current foreign diplomats voiced concern over the volatile relationship between South Korea and Japan, and its effect on America’s military alliance with the two. Despite Heritage’s conservative leanings, it members are voicing concerns that are likely shared across the aisle, and especially by the current administration. There are some recent indications that both countries are interested in improving their strained relationship, which will be necessary even given Washington’s influence. A general fatigue over constantly stirring up controversial issues between the two could begin to have a cumulative effect on their ability to cooperate, should the need arise.

At Tuesday’s event, Ahn Ho-yung, Seoul’s ambassador to Washington D.C., said relations could not improve unless Japan recognized its wartime mistakes “fairly and honestly,” specifically referring to the use of “comfort women” during the World War II. Heritage’s senior research fellow on Northeast Asia Bruce Klingner responded by saying “Washington has become frustrated with both our friends. With Japan for its tin-eared, ham-fisted diplomatic approach toward resolving historic issues, and with South Korea’s insistence on seeing every issue through the lens of history.” In defense of Japan’s recent turn toward military normalization, former chief of the US Pacific Command and Director of National Intelligence Director Dennis Blair said “they should not be confused with a return to 1930s-style militarism. Japan today is so far from that.”