South Korea-Japan Relations in the 2010s: Ambivalent Strategic and Economic Partners?

The power shift in the international system, the domestic politics of South Korea and Japan, and the attitudes of their top political leaders towards a historical reconciliation have worsened bilateral relations. Nevertheless, they share common strategic interests amidst a nuclearising Pyongyang. If Korean reunification is attained within the next few decades, developmental assistance from Tokyo will be immensely useful, making Japan a partner to Korea in the future.