There was never any question of the latter two being key Asian allies of the superpower. But for the US to have to choose between Tokyo and Seoul sounds unthinkable.
The US is synonymous with invincibility, indestructibility. The most recent threat to security comes from North Korea, where its despotic ruler Kim Jong-un has launched ballistic missiles in numerous tests and stoked global fear and outrage with his provocative statements.
President Trump is no better, giving a measure for measure in their word war. But with the political changes, the dynamics of the alliance ties have shifted in varying degrees. Moon Jae-in, taking over from the ousted Park Geun-Hye, reached out to its communist half to engage in talks rather than warfare. Thus far, Kim has responded surprisingly cordially, and a North-South summit is on the calendar. By being so, it is pulling away from its longtime keeper.
Both countries stand to lose a lot in economics and politics. The trade deal renegotiation is underway, and some terms have been agreed upon in principle. The troops were once held in high esteem by the South Koreans, its very presence a symbol of their security blanket, warding off an attack from the North.
On June 25, , that admiration sank when South Koreans learned how the ROK government exploited their own women during the American occupation through the Korean War.
