Setback to Korea-US-Japan Trilateral Cooperation, Increased Possibility of US Involvement in Korea-Japan Relations

[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoo and Jieun Lee] The collapse of the South Korea-Japan summit is expected to act as a negative factor despite U.S. President Joe Biden's emphasis on strengthening the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation.

As the Biden administration is drawing a big picture to respond to China's rise and promote denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula based on the trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, the possibility of more active involvement in South Korea-Japan relations through the trilateral vice-ministerial talks on the 21st has increased.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 20th, South Korea-Japan, South Korea-U.S., and South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral vice-ministerial talks will be held respectively in Tokyo and Seoul from the 20th to the 23rd to discuss current issues.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, will first hold a South Korea-Japan vice-ministerial meeting with Takeo Mori, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, in Tokyo on the afternoon of the 20th. On the morning of the 21st, Vice Minister Choi will attend the 8th South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral vice-ministerial talks with U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman and Vice Minister Mori before returning to Korea.

Subsequently, on the 23rd, he will hold a South Korea-U.S. strategic dialogue with Deputy Secretary Sherman in Korea.

Amid worsening South Korea-Japan relations following the collapse of the South Korea-Japan summit on the occasion of the Tokyo Olympics, the meeting of high-level diplomatic officials from the three countries led by the U.S. to discuss trilateral cooperation measures is drawing exceptional attention.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral vice-ministerial talks were arranged for the first time in four years, coinciding with Deputy Secretary Sherman's Asia tour.

Unlike the Trump administration, the Biden administration has emphasized unity and cohesion among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan to pursue an anti-China stance and denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula since its inception.

In this situation, Japan, which bears responsibility for the collapse of the South Korea-Japan summit, is expected to be on high alert regarding the U.S. perspective, according to diplomatic sources.

Additionally, the issue of the South Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) suspension decision, which originated from export control measures two years ago, is also a burden for Japan.

Unlike the previous condition where the agreement was automatically renewed until one party gave a unilateral termination notice, the current incomplete condition requires annual confirmation of suspension after the export controls.

Resolving the GSOMIA issue, which Japan finds burdensome amid the Biden administration's emphasis on strengthening the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation, is also a key point.

Professor Kim Hyun-wook of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy said, "In the past, South Korea and Japan communicated directly to discuss GSOMIA, but now it has become difficult," adding, "Since the South Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral alliance that the U.S. expects is hard to communicate quickly and reach that level, both South Korea and Japan will likely only be able to communicate through the U.S."

Diplomatic experts believe that it will be difficult to create a turning point in the current South Korea-Japan relations. With South Korea's presidential election scheduled for March next year and Japan's general election planned for the fall, both countries may find it increasingly burdensome to show weakness to the other side.

Ultimately, improving South Korea-Japan relations without U.S. mediation has become difficult within the current government.

Shin Beom-chul, head of the Foreign and Security Center at the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade, said, "Japan's current stance on South Korea-Japan relations is largely to not agree with the current government and move on," adding, "However, it could change depending on the U.S. role, and the U.S. side could play a role in persuading the South Korean and Japanese governments to engage in dialogue."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.