Introduction: Are Japan and Korea Alone and Apart from Each Other?

Abstract

The aim of this volume is to examine the domestic politics and foreign policy of two countries that look alone and are apart from each other. The picture of the trilateral meeting among President Barack Obama of the United States, Prime Minister Abe Shinzo of Japan, and President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea, which took place at The Hague in April 2014, vividly exposed Japan and South Korea as being alone and apart from each other even when they are geographically close. Obama was sandwiched by Abe and Park. Prodded, both Abe and Park spoke. Abe started in Korean, looking at Park. Abe’s Korean is elementary, but he apparently wanted to ease the tension derived from the long nonmeeting of the two leaders by speaking in the other’s language. Park did not look at him. Instead, she apparently remained intent on listening to the translation. Although Abe’s Korean was neither intolerable nor incomprehensible, she apparently wanted to avoid something. The two leaders were alone and apart from each other.