Security of Japan and Korean Unification

Abstract

Korea is a dagger pointed at Japan's heart as well as a bridge to the Asian mainland. Stability and non-hostility on the peninsula are critical for maintaining Japan's security. Many had predicted the collapse of North Korea. It is a safe assumption that unification will be achieved in the long term. A Korean unification has implications for Japan's security as follows. First a U.S.-leaning Korea is favorable for Japan. Second a neutral Korea is unfavorable for Japan but not critical to Japan as long as ties between Japan and the U.S. are firm. Third a China-leaning Korea is unfavorable. If China becomes aggressive with Korea it may be critical to Japan's security. The character of a unified Korea will be a complex functional equation. Japan hopes a new Korea is friendly if making efforts to support the project to unify the two Koreas is successful. Japan should also strengthen ties with the U.S. and build mutual understanding and trust with China.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 15, 2006
Accession Number
ADA448709

Entities

People

  • Takayuki Onozuka

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Agreements
  • Cold War
  • Commerce
  • Education
  • Governments
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • International Security
  • National Security
  • North Korea
  • Political Science
  • Security
  • Sociopolitics
  • South Korea
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Strategic Security Studies
  • Systems Analysis and Design