Despite improved ROK-Japan ties, an intel alliance remains a step too far



Analysis Despite improved ROK-Japan ties, an intel alliance remains a step too far A trilateral intelligence pact would help to counter North Korea, but distrust between Seoul and Tokyo stands in the way John LeeApril 18, 2023 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON An illustration of three secret operatives sharing files \| Image: Korea Pro ROK principal deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo recently floated the idea that Seoul and Washington expand their “intelligence alliance” to include Japan. This marks the first time a South Korean official has used the term “alliance” in the context of the country’s partnership with Tokyo. The rationale for potentially including Japan in the ROK’s intelligence-sharing pact with the U.S. is clear: North Korea’s missiles and nuclear weapons pose a threat to Seoul, Tokyo and the tens of thousands of U.S. forces stationed in both countries. China’s growing influence and military assertivenessin the Indo-Pacific region are also driving the © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01Trump’s Alaska LNG claim shows who really runs the US-South Korea alliance 02South Korea’s missile defense push raises new questions over wartime stocks 03South Korea bank hacks expose weak links beyond core financial systems 04Lee-Zelensky feud exposes South Korea’s widening Ukraine policy dilemma 05Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump 06Trump’s Korea investment victory lap masks safeguards Seoul still controls 07North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy 08South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus

Analysis

Despite improved ROK-Japan ties, an intel alliance remains a step too far

A trilateral intelligence pact would help to counter North Korea, but distrust between Seoul and Tokyo stands in the way

John LeeApril 18, 2023

Despite improved ROK-Japan ties, an intel alliance remains a step too far

An illustration of three secret operatives sharing files | Image: Korea Pro

ROK principal deputy national security adviser Kim Tae-hyo recently floated the idea that Seoul and Washington expand their “intelligence alliance” to include Japan. This marks the first time a South Korean official has used the term “alliance” in the context of the country’s partnership with Tokyo.

The rationale for potentially including Japan in the ROK’s intelligence-sharing pact with the U.S. is clear: North Korea’s missiles and nuclear weapons pose a threat to Seoul, Tokyo and the tens of thousands of U.S. forces stationed in both countries. China’s growing influence and military assertivenessin the Indo-Pacific region are also driving the

LATEST ANALYSIS

01Trump’s Alaska LNG claim shows who really runs the US-South Korea alliance
02South Korea’s missile defense push raises new questions over wartime stocks
03South Korea bank hacks expose weak links beyond core financial systems
04Lee-Zelensky feud exposes South Korea’s widening Ukraine policy dilemma
05Lee Jae Myung’s ‘pacemaker’ strategy tests South Korea’s leverage with Trump
06Trump’s Korea investment victory lap masks safeguards Seoul still controls
07North Korean POW dispute tests Seoul-Kyiv trust and future Ukraine policy
08South Korea’s CPTPP push exposes the cost of turning trade gains into consensus

Despite improved ROK-Japan ties, an intel alliance remains a step too far

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John Lee