Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors
Background The central model of Japan’s North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again.Purpose: This paper summarizes Japan’s policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, exa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Taylor & Francis Group
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2020.1762300 |
| _version_ | 1818286317735247872 |
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| author | Shunji Hiraiwa |
| author_facet | Shunji Hiraiwa |
| author_sort | Shunji Hiraiwa |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background The central model of Japan’s North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again.Purpose: This paper summarizes Japan’s policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan’s current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future.Main Argument: Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan’s policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan’s economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan’s policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan’s domestic politics also determine Japan’s North Korea policy.Conclusion: While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan’s attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. He central model of Japan’s North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again. This paper summarizes Japan’s policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan’s current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future. Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan’s policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan’s economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan’s policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan’s domestic politics also determine Japan’s North Korea policy. While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan’s attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:22:41Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c40b938302ba41b9b61a9ea2f6e74fd7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2476-1028 2476-1036 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:22:41Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies |
| spelling | doaj.art-c40b938302ba41b9b61a9ea2f6e74fd72022-12-22T00:04:12ZengTaylor & Francis GroupJournal of Contemporary East Asia Studies2476-10282476-10362020-01-019111710.1080/24761028.2020.17623001762300Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factorsShunji Hiraiwa0Nanzan UniversityBackground The central model of Japan’s North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again.Purpose: This paper summarizes Japan’s policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan’s current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future.Main Argument: Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan’s policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan’s economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan’s policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan’s domestic politics also determine Japan’s North Korea policy.Conclusion: While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan’s attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea. He central model of Japan’s North Korea policy has been maintained consistently despite repeated changes in the government from the Liberal Democratic Party to the Democratic Party and back again. This paper summarizes Japan’s policy concerning North Korea after the Cold War, examines the structure of this policy, and, based on this structure, analyzes Japan’s current policy regarding North Korea. The analysis then turns to the future. Normalizing relations between Japan and North Korea may be the primary goal of Japan’s policy, but the following four motives can also be identified. First, for Japan, the normalization of relations with North Korea is significant as a remaining postwar process. The second motive involves responses to security issues. Third, there is the issue of the safety of Japanese lives. Fourth, Japan’s economic opportunities in North Korea must be considered. Japan has sought ties with North Korea with these four motives, which will remain unchanged in the future. However, Japan does not aim to normalize relations with North Korea without restrictions, and Japan’s policy concerning North Korea is bound by the following three factors. The first factor is the international environment. Second, Japan–North Korea relations are constrained by the attitude of South Korea. Third, Japan’s domestic politics also determine Japan’s North Korea policy. While the four motives will remain the same for Japan, these three factors determine Japan’s attitude toward North Korea, all three of which are pushing for Japan to negotiate with North Korea.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2020.1762300japan–north korea relationsjapan’s north korea policypyongyang declarationstockholm agreementabduction issue |
| spellingShingle | Shunji Hiraiwa Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies japan–north korea relations japan’s north korea policy pyongyang declaration stockholm agreement abduction issue |
| title | Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors |
| title_full | Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors |
| title_fullStr | Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors |
| title_short | Japan’s policy on North Korea: four motives and three factors |
| title_sort | japan s policy on north korea four motives and three factors |
| topic | japan–north korea relations japan’s north korea policy pyongyang declaration stockholm agreement abduction issue |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/24761028.2020.1762300 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT shunjihiraiwa japanspolicyonnorthkoreafourmotivesandthreefactors |