[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Is There a Move to Improve Korea-Japan Relations?

Yoon Administration's First Defense White Paper Labels Japan as 'Close Neighboring Country'
Relationship with Japan Addressed Before China

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The first Defense White Paper published under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration described Japan as a "close neighboring country" and revived the expression that South Korea and Japan "share values" after six years, reflecting the intention to improve relations.

In the '2022 Defense White Paper' published by the Ministry of National Defense on the 16th, Japan was described as "South Korea and Japan share values, and Japan is a close neighboring country with which we should build a future cooperative relationship that aligns with our mutual interests."

This Defense White Paper placed more importance on relations with Japan than with China. For the first time in six years since 2016, the section on South Korea-Japan relations was addressed first. This contrasts with the Moon Jae-in administration’s 2018 and 2020 white papers, which first discussed South Korea-China defense exchange cooperation before addressing South Korea-Japan relations.

The Defense White Paper’s wording is significant as it reflects the government’s policy direction.

During the Roh Moo-hyun administration, the 2006 Defense White Paper described Japan as a "major neighboring country sharing universal values." During the Lee Myung-bak administration in 2008, 2010, and 2012, and the first white paper under the Park Geun-hye administration in 2014, the explanation only stated that the two countries "share the fundamental values of liberal democracy and market economy," without defining what kind of country Japan was.

In 2018, when the Moon Jae-in administration’s first white paper was released, the description changed to "South Korea and Japan are geographically and culturally close neighbors and partners who should cooperate together for world peace and prosperity." The 2020 white paper further described Japan as "a neighboring country with which we should cooperate not only for bilateral relations but also for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world."

The white paper also explained regarding the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) that "the effect of the termination notice has been suspended, and necessary information exchanges have been proceeding normally since then." This differs from the 2020 white paper, which stated that "the suspension of the effect of the termination notice of the agreement is being maintained."

The Indo-Pacific strategy of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration was also reflected. Past white papers continued discussions by explaining the global security situation in Chapter 1, Section 1, and the Northeast Asian security situation in Chapter 1, Section 2. However, this white paper titled Chapter 1, Section 2 as ‘Security Situation in the Indo-Pacific Region.’

When explaining the military capabilities of surrounding major countries here, in addition to the past coverage of the United States, Japan, China, and Russia, Australia and India were included for the first time, and an overview of their military capabilities was described.