WEAI Research Scholar Stephen Noerper wrote an article for Pacific Forum titled “With Abe’s Departure, What Next for Seoul?” outlining the implications of the resignation of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for Korea-Japan relations. Noerper also suggests various points of focus to encourage reconciliation between the two countries, cooperation on areas of mutual concern, and wider trilateral and bilateral implications for Seoul, Tokyo, and Washington.
“Despite the efforts of those of us who’ve pushed a more accommodating line, my concern now is that a replacement like the hawkish Ishiba Shigeru or Abe’s close confidant Suga Yoshihide, who served as his chief cabinet secretary since 2012, could espouse an even harder line or play to nationalist sentiments to foster the base during the Covid challenge, economic downturn, and delay (and possibly cancellation) of the Summer Olympics,” Noerper writes.
