[특집] 한반도 유사시 일본의 역할

The Guidelines and Japan's Role in Korean Contingency

The Guidelines for U.S.-Japan Defense Cooperation is characterized as a framework that expands the scope of the U.S.-Japan military cooperation and specifies the roles and missions of the two countries. The Guidelines is a preparation for both an armed attack against Japan and contingency situations in areas surrounding Japan. An important question for South Korea is whether 'the situations in areas surrounding Japan' include Korean contingency. If so, Japan will provide assistance to the U.S. troops when armed attack by North Korea occurs in Korean Peninsula. Considering geographical proximity between Korea and Japan and the existence of North Korean long-range missiles, Japan almost certainly believes that Korean contingency is also a Japan contingency. Japan's possible help toward South Korea maybe categorized as two-fold: to supply forward bases for U.S. troops and to conduct rear area supports. Naval bases in Sasebo and Yokosuka, air bases in Iwakuni, Yokota, Atsuki, Misawa, and Futenma, and marine bases in Okinawa will promptly send backup forces to the Korean Peninsula. Also, Japan will provide various rear area supports ( up to 40 categories) to the U.S. concerning communications, intelligence, logistics, supply, transportation, maintenance, facilities, and medical services. Japan's participating in fighting against North Korea would be a significant backup for Korea-U.S. joint forces, thereby more effectively deterring North Korea's military intimidation. However, let alone North Korea, there exists suspicious interpretation against the Guidelines particularly in China and Russia, which might stir arms race in Northeast Asian region. The two great powers' dissatisfaction with the Korea-U.S.-Japan three-way military coordination may even deteriorate unification dialogue in the region. A careful and sensible diplomacy with neighbor countries, therefore, is needed in improving security relationship with Japan. At this point, Korea and Japan should co-work to identify possible areas and measures of cooperation, paying particular attention to issues that may cause conflicts with national sovereignty. Nonetheless, the idea of forming a bilateral alliance with Japan may be too hasty because this would impede the maneuverability of Korea's foreign policy.