Historical issues in Northeast Asia

A spate of recent exchanges could be seen as an accomplishment in and of itself, but there has been little concrete progress toward a solution on the forced labor issue.

PM Suga met with Seoul’s National Intelligence Service director, a rare bilateral exchange amid strained relations.

South Korea-Japan ties during Abe’s tenure can probably best be described as persistent lows, punctuated by what have proved to be mostly ephemeral highs

Relations between Japan and South Korea have long fluctuated between comity and crisis.

“This episode of Japan-Korea diplomatic friction is different from past instances.”

Ongoing tensions between Tokyo and Seoul cast a notable pall over the foreign ministers meeting.

The current dispute marks a clear break in both countries’ dealings with historical legacies.

South Korea, Japan, and the US are all damaged by the conflict. China, however, stands to gain.

If the forced labor rulings are the hidden motivation, Tokyo’s actions are wildly disproportionate.

As Japan escalates its trade restrictions, South Korea vows to respond in kind.

The export controls are a policy of last resort from a frustrated Tokyo.