Volatile North prompts Seoul, Tokyo to cooperate

By Kang Hyun-kyung

North Korea has become increasingly provocative as Kim Jong-il’s third son, Jong-un, is being groomed to succeed his father as the nation’s next leader, prompting its southern neighbor to consider teaming up with Japan in defense.

The Seoul-Tokyo defense cooperation comes against the backdrop of Washington’s proposal of a tripartite military partnership ― the United States, South Korea and Japan ― to deter the reclusive nation’s ill-conceived behavior.

Analysts say the United States will benefit from the tripartite defense cooperation, if formed, as the partnership will not only bolster deterrence against the North, but also could be used to counter China.

Seoul’s expanding ties with Tokyo is in stark contrast with its Seoul-Beijing relations. The bilateral ties are being put to the test after China, a decades-long benefactor of the North, sided with the Stalinist state, despite international pressure on Beijing to exert its influence to prod Pyongyang to change its course of action.

Previously, historical animosity driven by Japan’s 36-year occupation of South Korea remained a setback to bilateral military cooperation.

Toshimi Kitazawa, defense minister of Japan, will arrive in Seoul early next week to meet with his South Korean counterpart Kim Kwan-jin to discuss the agenda of a bilateral security pact. The two sides plan to agree a deal this year. If signed, South Korea and Japan would share intelligence on North Korea’s weapons of mass destruction. Japan has such a security treaty with the United States and conducts drills with the latter.

Kitazawa’s Seoul trip comes about a month after Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, called on both South Korea and Japan to consider strengthening defense cooperation during his visits to Seoul and Tokyo.

In meetings with Korean and Japanese officials in December, Mullen proposed three-way defense exercises between the United States, South Korea and Japan in order to bolster deterrence against North Korea.

“No single nation can address all of today’s challenges alone. And even if someone could, there is a greater strength to be found in the diversity of talent and skill presented through multilateral cooperation,” Mullen said in a meeting with Japanese officials last month.

“The Korean Peninsula is much better addressed by all of us together in terms of showing strength and getting to a point where we can deter North Korean behavior, that benefits all of us.”

Deputy defense ministers of South Korea and Japan met immediately after Mullen wrapped up his trip to the two nations. They discussed ways to strengthen defense ties at the talks held in Tokyo.

But Mullen’s proposal of conducting three-way exercises met with skepticism from both Seoul and Tokyo.

A high-ranking military official was quoted as saying that at the moment South Korea feels no need to conduct three-way drills. Geopolitics still prompt Seoul to remain wary of the response from China, which is its largest export market.

A Japanese media outlet reported Tuesday that Japan considered declaring a joint statement with South Korea over a comprehensive bilateral partnership.

Citing diplomatic sources in Japan and South Korea, the Yomiuri Shimbun said the statement will include cooperation between Japan’s self-defense forces and the South Korean military.

President Lee Myung-bak and his Japanese counterpart Naoto Kan will sign the statement when Lee visits Japan for a summit in the first half of this year, it added.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs denied the report.

“At the moment, nothing has been confirmed about President Lee’s trip to Japan for the summit this year. South Korea has not discussed the joint statement with Japan, either,” the ministry said in a statement.

Defense: 한일관계, 북한 도발에 영향 받아

북한의 천안함, 연평도에 이르는 군사적 도발이 역사 및 영토문제로 주기적으로 갈등을 빚던 한국과 일본의 관계를 새롭게 정립하는데 영향을 주고 있다.

북한의 연평도 도발이 한일 양국의 군사부분 협력을 촉진시키고 있는 것.

내주 초 방한하는 일본의 방위성 장관은 김관진 국방장관과 군사비밀보호협정과 상호군수지원협정을 체결을 추진하기로 한 것으로 알려졌다.

전문가들은 한일간 군사협력 강화 움직임이 북한의 도발에 대한 억지력을 강화시키는 한편, 미국으로서는 중국을 견제하는데 도움이 될 수 있다고 분석한다.

지난달 한국과 일본을 방문한 멀린 미 합참의장은 한일 양국에 군사 협력 필요성을 강조하면서 한미일 공동 군사훈련을 제안한 바 있다. 한국은 이에 대해 부정적인 입장을 표명했다.