Japan, S. Korea weathering “tough period”: senior U.S. official

January 31, 2019

Washington--Relations between Japan and South Korea "are weathering a tough period," a senior U.S. government official said Wednesday.

"We believe that now more than ever, it is crucial to ensure that there are strong and close relationships" among the United States and the two Asian countries, particularly in the face of challenges posed by China and North Korea, Marc Knapper, acting deputy assistant secretary of state for Japan and South Korea issues, said in a lecture in Washington.

Relations between Tokyo and Seoul have been strained partly because of a series of South Korean court rulings ordering Japanese firms to pay compensation to South Koreans who were requisitioned to work in Japan during World War II, as well as an incident in December 2018 in which a South Korean warship allegedly directed fire-control radar at a Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol plane over the Sea of Japan.

Knapper also said, "I think it's safe to say" that U.S. forces in South Korea "has never been on the table when we talk with North Korea."

He made the remark in response to concerns that U.S. President Donald Trump may propose fully or partially withdrawing American troops from South Korea during the course of U.S.-North Korea negotiations on the denuclearization of North Korea.

"There is a lot of work" that needs to be done in preparation for a second meeting between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Knapper said. But he did not elaborate.

The U.S. government said on Jan. 18 that the Trump-Kim meeting will be held in late February. But a specific date and venue for the event have not been disclosed.

Trump and Kim met in Singapore in June 2018 for the first-ever summit between the United States and North Korea. Jiji Press