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U.S.-Japan Relations [Updated February 2, 2021]
From the Overview: "Japan, a U.S. treaty ally since 1951, is a significant partner of the United States in several foreign policy areas, particularly security and trade. Shared security goals range from meeting the challenge of an increasingly powerful China to countering threats from North Korea. The U.S.-Japan mutual defense treaty grants the United States the right to base U.S. troops--currently numbering around 50,000--and other military assets on Japanese territory in return for a U.S. pledge to protect Japan's security. The two countries collaborate through multiple bilateral and multilateral institutions on issues such as science and technology, global health, energy, and agriculture. Japan is the fourth largest U.S. trading partner and largest source of foreign direct investment into the United States, and its investors are the largest foreign holders of U.S. Treasury securities. The U.S.-Japan relationship remains strong, and recent leadership transitions in both capitals could smooth relations and deepen cooperation across a greater set of issues. Whereas alliance relations under former President Trump and former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe relied heavily on personal rapport between leaders, President Biden and Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga may revert to a more traditional partnership that relies more on institutionalized ties. [...] In the short term, the countries will confront the expiration of their existing cost-sharing agreement for hosting the U.S. military in Japan."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Williams, Brock R. . . .
2021-02-02
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated February 2, 2021]
From the Overview: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). The alliance also helps the United States promote its interests in East Asia and around the globe, including by deploying ROK troops to U.S.-led military conflicts in the Middle East. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK. [...] Policy cooperation between the United States and South Korea was inconsistent under the administrations of Donald Trump and Moon Jae-in. President Moon, a progressive, was elected in May 2017 after a decade of conservative rule. President Biden has called for reinvigorating the alliance, suggesting he would abandon President Trump's repeated use of punitive tariffs against allies like Seoul and his demand for a five-fold increase in South Korea's payments for the costs of hosting U.S. troops. Unlike Trump, Biden has not signaled an interest in demanding new concessions in the KORUS FTA [U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement] or withdrawing U.S. troops from South Korea. Bilateral difficulties could surface, however, over North Korea policy. Moon's government favors easing sanctions against Pyongyang, a stance that could create tensions with Washington."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2021-02-02
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'Quad': Security Cooperation Among the United States, Japan, India, and Australia [November 2, 2020]
From the Overview: "In October 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his three counterparts from Australia, India, and Japan convened an in-person meeting in Tokyo. The focus was on boosting the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue, aka 'the Quad,' a four-country coalition with a common platform of protecting freedom of navigation and promoting democratic values in the region. The gathering released no joint statement, but Pompeo stated that the purpose of the group was to 'protect our people and partners from the Chinese Communist Party's exploitation, corruption, and coercion.' Although the three other ministers framed the meeting differently in their opening statements, fears of China's growing influence and assertiveness in the region loom large. Tensions with China have worsened for all four countries in 2020, driving increased defense cooperation among them. Despite this confluence, the Quad faces major challenges in defining itself and its goals. Does expanding defense cooperation provide meaningful strategic advantages? Will the Quad broaden its activities on democracy promotion? Is it durable as a framework even in the face of leadership changes in member countries? These questions may be of critical importance to Congress given its oversight responsibilities, interest in security alliances, and growing concern about China's power and influence in the region."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Kronstadt, K. Alan; Vaughn, Bruce, 1963-
2020-11-02
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Thailand: 2020 Student Protests and U.S.-Thai Relations [October 29, 2020]
From the Document: "Protesters have taken to the streets in Thailand, challenging the country's military-led government and, notably, the role of the country's powerful monarchy. Protesters are demanding constitutional reform, the resignation of Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, and limitations on the powers of the monarchy--a deeply sensitive issue in Thailand. Previous periods of mass protests in Thailand have challenged the country's political institutions, and on numerous instances have resulted in violent clashes between competing factions as well as with the Thai military. Since becoming a constitutional monarchy in 1932, Thailand has experienced over 22 attempted coups (13 successful), the most recent in 2014."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Smith, Kirt; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben
2020-10-29
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Japanese Prime Minister Abe's Resignation and the U.S.-Japan Alliance [September 8, 2020]
From the Introduction: "On August 28, 2020, after weeks of rumors in the press, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced that he would resign due to the resurgence of a chronic health condition. Abe, the longest-serving premier in modern Japanese history, had been in power since 2012, bringing unusual stability to Japanese politics and foreign policy. During his tenure, he expanded Japan's military and diplomatic capabilities and championed the U.S.-Japan alliance by, among other steps, aligning bilateral security policy and integrating military operations more tightly. Abe forged a personal relationship with President Trump to further Japan's interests, succeeding in convincing Trump to adopt Abe's vision of the Indo-Pacific strategy. He also avoided a contentious trade fight over autos while concluding a limited trade agreement that covers about 5% of bilateral trade flows. However, the warm rapport between the two leaders was insufficient to persuade Trump to remain in the proposed Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement or support Japan's priorities in dealing with North Korea. While Abe received praise for strengthening the U.S.-Japan military partnership, some observers see indications of cracks that have developed, particularly in the areas of cost-sharing and joint weapons deployments that will almost immediately create challenges for Abe's successor."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Campbell, Caitlin; Manyin, Mark E.
2020-09-08
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Diplomacy with North Korea: A Status Report [Updated June 19, 2020]
From the Overview: "United States-North Korea diplomacy to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile programs has been stalled since February 2019, and observers see little chance for progress in the coming months. In June 2020, tension increased on the Korean Peninsula, when the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK, North Korea's official name) turned more belligerent, blowing up an inter-Korean liaison office inside North Korea and threatening to interfere in upcoming U.S. elections, among other moves. Since President Donald Trump first agreed in March 2018 to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the Trump Administration has emphasized the importance of developing a strong leader-to-leader relationship. The strategy appears to presume better results than the working-group negotiations employed by previous administrations. Trump and Kim have held three meetings: in Singapore (June 2018); Hanoi (February 2019); and Panmunjom (June 2019). The personal diplomacy defused the U.S.-DPRK hostility that had developed in 2017, raising alarms that war could break out on the Korean Peninsula. The diplomacy also has helped preserve North Korea's self-imposed moratoria on nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile tests. Despite Kim's 2018 pledge to denuclearize, President Trump's approach to North Korea has been called into question by the absence of progress in negotiations, the DPRK's renewed hostility, allegations of sanctions-busting trade, and Pyongyang's continued enhancements to its military capabilities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham . . .
2020-06-19
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U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated May 19, 2020]
From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to strike a balance among the region's powers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Dolven, Ben; Chanlett-Avery, Emma
2020-05-19
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U.S.-Japan Relations [Updated April 29, 2020]
From the Overview: "Japan, a U.S. treaty ally since 1951, is a significant partner of the United States in several foreign policy areas, particularly security and trade issues. Shared security goals range from meeting the challenge of an increasingly powerful China to countering threats from North Korea. The mutual defense treaty grants the U.S. military the right to base U.S. troops--currently numbering around 50,000-- and other military assets on Japanese territory in return for a U.S. pledge to protect Japan's security. The two countries collaborate across multiple bilateral, regional, and multilateral institutions on issues such as science and technology, global health, energy, and agriculture. Japan also is the fifth largest U.S. trading partner (fourth largest if European Union [EU] countries are considered separately) and second largest source of foreign direct investment in the United States. Japanese investors are the largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasury securities. Despite their shared security concerns and the personal rapport that has developed between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump, significant policy differences between Washington and Tokyo have emerged."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Williams, Brock R. . . .
2020-04-29
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U.S.-North Korea Relations [Updated April 29, 2020]
From the Document: "North Korea has posed one of the most persistent U.S. foreign policy challenges of the post-Cold War period. Having made advances in its nuclear and missile capabilities under its leader, Kim Jong-un, North Korea has evolved into a grave security threat to the United States. The United States and North Korea (officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) began denuclearization talks in 2018, but those negotiations essentially have been frozen since February 2019, with little apparent prospect for a breakthrough. Meanwhile, North Korea simultaneously has continued to develop its nuclear and missile capabilities. Other U.S. concerns include North Korea's cyberspace activities, conventional military capabilities, egregious human rights violations, international terrorism, and illicit activities such as money laundering and smuggling."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.
2020-04-29
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated April 22, 2020]
From the Overview: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK), and the alliance helps the United States promote its interests in East Asia and around the globe. ROK troops, for example, have fought alongside U.S. troops in U.S.-led military conflicts. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK. The economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States is South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China. Policy cooperation between the United States and South Korea has been inconsistent under the administrations of Donald Trump and Moon Jae-in. Moon, a progressive, was elected President in May 2017 after a decade of conservative rule. Although the two sides generally have managed to navigate differences, for instance over trade and North Korea policy, underlying tensions continue to surface on a range of issues."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2020-04-22
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated December 11, 2019]
From the Overview: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK), and the alliance has given the United States a partner and a forward presence in Asia that help it promote U.S. interests in East Asia. Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK. The U.S.-ROK economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.-South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States is South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2019-12-11
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U.S.-South Korea Alliance: Issues for Congress [December 10, 2019]
From the Document: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is considered one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). South Korean troops have fought in U.S.-led conflicts, including in Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The United States includes South Korea under its 'nuclear umbrella,' otherwise known as extended deterrence. [...] The U.S.-ROK alliance is strained on several fronts. President Trump's periodic references to bringing U.S. troops home from the Peninsula and his criticism of the value of alliances more broadly have raised questions in Seoul about U.S. security commitments. Contentious burden-sharing negotiations face a December 31, 2019, deadline, just as North Korea threatens to return to provocations. South Korean President Moon Jae-in wants to complete the long-delayed process to transfer operational control of ROK forces in wartime to a South Korean general, which could lead to disagreements about the timing and conditions for the transition. In addition, growing differences in approach to dealing with North Korea and China could put increased pressure on the alliance."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma
2019-12-10
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U.S.-North Korea Relations [Updated August 13, 2019]
From the Document: "North Korea has posed one of the most persistent U.S. foreign policy challenges of the post-Cold War period. With advances in its nuclear and missile capabilities under 35-year-old leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea has evolved into a grave security threat to the United States. Efforts to halt North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs have occupied the past four U.S. administrations. Although North Korea (officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) has haltingly engaged in negotiations with the United States under the Trump Administration, it simultaneously has continued to develop these programs. The weapons programs have been the primary focus of U.S. policy toward North Korea, but other U.S. concerns include North Korea's cyberspace activities, conventional military capabilities, egregious human rights violations, international terrorism, and illicit activities such as money laundering, smuggling, and trafficking of both narcotics and humans."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.
2019-08-13
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North Korea: What 18 Months of Diplomacy Has and Has Not Achieved [August 5, 2019]
From the Document: "Since President Trump agreed in March 2018 to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, the Trump Administration's strategy has appeared to be based on the presumption that developing a leader-to-leader relationship will produce more results than the working-group approaches taken by previous administrations. [...] Overall, these diplomatic efforts have produced a marked reduction in tensions on the Korean Peninsula, and Trump and Kim appear to have developed a personal relationship that Trump says ultimately could produce a breakthrough. Kim has pledged to denuclearize, and has maintained a unilateral moratorium on nuclear tests and long-range and medium-range missile tests. Kim's public denuclearization promises, however, have been conditional and vague."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham; Rennack, Dianne E. . . .
2019-08-05
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated August 1, 2019]
From the Overview: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK, which is included under the U.S. 'nuclear umbrella.' The U.S.-ROK economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States is South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2019-08-01
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Thailand: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated June 25, 2019]
From the Overview: "Thailand is a long-time military ally and economic partner of the United States. These ties endure,but more than a decade of political turmoil in Thailand, including two military coups in 2006 and 2014, has complicated U.S.-Thai relations and erased Thailand's image as a model democracy in Southeast Asia. Thailand conducted nationwide elections in March 2019--its first since 2011--and in June seated a new government led by Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Thai Army who led the 2014 coup. The polls were conducted under new rules drafted by the junta that structurally protect the military's influence, and questions remain about the new government's popular legitimacy. The military government also rewrote Thailand's constitution to create a military-appointed Senate, and was widely criticized for harassment of government critics and severe restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben; Smith, Kirt
2019-06-25
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U.S.-Japan Alliance Updated [June 13, 2019]
From the Document: "The U.S.-Japan alliance has long been an anchor of the U.S. security role in Asia and arguably a contributor to peace and prosperity in the region. Forged during the U.S. occupation of Japan after its defeat in World War II, the alliance provides a platform for U.S. military readiness in the Pacific. About 54,000 U.S. troops are stationed in Japan and have the exclusive use of 85 facilities. In exchange for the use of these bases, the United States guarantees Japan's security."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Campbell, Caitlin; Williams, Joshua A.
2019-06-13
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U.S.-Japan Relations [Updated May 20, 2019]
From the Document: "Japan is a significant partner of the United States in a number of foreign policy areas, particularly security issues, which range from hedging against Chinese military modernization to countering threats from North Korea. The U.S.-Japan military alliance, formed in 1952, grants the U.S. military the right to base U.S. troops--currently numbering around 50,000--and other military assets on Japanese territory in return for a U.S. pledge to protect Japan's security. Japan also is the United States' fourth largest overall trading partner and second largest source of foreign direct investment, and Japanese investors are the second largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries. For the first year of the Trump presidency, bilateral relations remained strong, at least on the surface, throughout several visits and leaders' meetings, cemented by common approach to North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving post-war leader, and President Trump presented a united front on dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear weapon test and multiple missile launches. Abe wholeheartedly endorsed the Trump Administration's 'maximum pressure' approach."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Williams, Brock R.
2019-05-20
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U.S.-Singapore Relations [Updated May 20, 2019]
From the Overview: "Though geographically only about three times the size of Washington, DC, and with a population of about 5.9 million, the city-state of Singapore exerts economic and diplomatic influence on par with much larger countries. Its stable government, strong economic performance, educated citizenry, and strategic position along key shipping lanes afford it a large role in regional and global affairs. For the United States, Singapore has been a partner in both trade and security initiatives and an advocate of a strong U.S. role in the Asia-Pacific region. At the same time, Singapore's leaders have aimed to maintain close relations with China, and to strike a balance among the region's powers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Dolven, Ben
2019-05-20
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated May 20, 2019]
From the Document: "South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK, which is included under the U.S. 'nuclear umbrella.' The U.S.-ROK economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States is South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2019-05-20
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Japan's New Emperor and Era [April 29, 2019]
From the Introduction: "On April 30th, the 85-year-old Japanese Emperor, Akihito, is to abdicate after 30 years on the Chrysanthemum throne, becoming the first to do so in over 200 years. The following day his eldest son, Naruhito, is to become the 126th Emperor of Japan. Japanese imperial successions are regarded as times of societal transition and therefore an important political moment. Japan will look to mark the occasion with friends and allies, including at an enthronement ceremony in October to which foreign delegations may be invited. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe invited President Donald Trump to be the first State Guest after Naruhito's accession in May. Furthermore, Abe, who has promoted a vision of a more assertive and independent Japan, may seek to use the transition to prompt greater national pride among Japanese citizens."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Joshua A.
2019-04-29
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February 2019 Trump-Kim Hanoi Summit [March 6, 2019]
From the Document: "On February 27 and 28, President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met in Hanoi to discuss North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, as well as the establishment of a new relationship between the two countries. The two leaders had held one prior summit, in Singapore, in June 2018. The Hanoi summit ended earlier than scheduled, with the cancelation of both a lunch and a ceremony to sign a joint statement. President Trump and U.S. officials said that the two leaders parted amicably, and that they expected dialogue would resume at a later date. An article in North Korea's state-run media also presented the summit in a positive light and mentioned that the two leaders agreed to 'continue productive dialogues.' South Korean President Moon Jae-in offered to help the United States and North Korea narrow their differences. The United States and North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK) each attributed the summit's breakdown to their inability to resolve differences over the scope and sequencing of concessions, specifically DPRK denuclearization measures in exchange for sanctions relief."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham . . .
2019-03-06
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South Korea: Background and U.S. Relations [Updated January 29, 2019]
"South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) is one of the United States' most important strategic and economic partners in Asia. The U.S.-ROK Mutual Defense Treaty, signed in 1953 at the end of the Korean War, commits the United States to help South Korea defend itself, particularly from North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK). Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are based in the ROK, which is included under the U.S. 'nuclear umbrella.' The U.S.-ROK economic relationship is bolstered by the U.S.- South Korea Free Trade Agreement (KORUS FTA). South Korea is the United States' seventh-largest trading partner, and the United States is South Korea's second-largest trading partner, behind China."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Williams, Brock R.
2019-01-29
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Possible Second U.S.-North Korea Summit: What Diplomacy Has and Hasn't Achieved [January 23, 2019]
"In late January 2019, President Donald Trump said he would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un 'probably at the end of February.' The summit would be the second between the two leaders, following their summit in Singapore in June 2018. As of January 22, the White House has not detailed the substance of the planned meeting. Washington and Pyongyang appeared to reach few substantive agreements ahead of the last summit, which Trump described as a 'getting to know you' occasion. If the Trump-Kim summit occurs, it would continue the high-level diplomacy that Pyongyang has orchestrated since early 2018. Over the past year, Kim has held three summits with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, four with Chinese President Xi Jinping, and one with President Trump."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Manyin, Mark E.; Chanlett-Avery, Emma
2019-01-23
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U.S. - Japan Relations [October 23, 2018]
"Japan is a significant partner of the United States in a number of foreign policy areas, particularly security issues, which range from hedging against Chinese military modernization to countering threats from North Korea. The U.S. - Japan military alliance, formed in 1952, grants the U.S. military the right to base U.S. troops -- currently numbering around 50,000 -- and other military assets on Japanese territory in return for a U.S. pledge to protect Japan's security. Japan also is the United States' fourth largest trading partner and second largest source of foreign direct investment, and Japanese investors are the second largest foreign holder of U.S. Treasuries. For the first year of the Trump presidency, bilateral relations remained strong, as least on the surface, throughout several visits and leaders' meetings, cemented by a common approach to North Korea. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Trump presented a united front on dealing with Pyongyang's nuclear weapon test and multiple missile launches and Abe wholeheartedly endorsed the Trump Administration's 'maximum pressure' approach."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Williams, Brock R.
2018-10-23
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North Korea: U.S. Relations, Nuclear Diplomacy, and Internal Situation [July 27, 2018]
"North Korea has posed one of the most persistent U.S. foreign policy challenges of the post-Cold War period due to its pursuit of proscribed weapons technology and belligerence toward the United States and its allies.[...] Efforts to halt North Korea's nuclear weapons program have occupied the past four U.S. Administrations, and North Korea is the target of scores of U.S. and United Nations Security Council sanctions. Although the weapons programs have been the primary focus of U.S. policy toward North Korea, other U.S. concerns include North Korea's illicit activities, such as counterfeiting currency and narcotics trafficking, small-scale armed attacks against South Korea, and egregious human rights violations. In 2018, the Trump Administration and Kim regime appeared to open a new chapter in the relationship. After months of rising tension and hostile rhetoric from both capitals in 2017, including a significant expansion of U.S. and international sanctions against North Korea, Trump and Kim held a leaders' summit in Singapore in June 2018. The meeting produced an agreement on principles for establishing a positive relationship. The United States agreed to provide security guarantees to North Korea, which committed to 'complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.' The agreement made no mention of resolving significant differences between the two countries, including the DPRK's ballistic missile program. Trump also said he would suspend annual U.S.-South Korea military exercises, labeling them 'provocative,' during the coming U.S.-DPRK nuclear negotiations. Trump also expressed a hope of eventually withdrawing the approximately 30,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.; Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham . . .
2018-07-27
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Peace Treaty with North Korea? [April 19, 2018]
"After months of rising tension and hostile rhetoric between Pyongyang and Washington, in March 2018 President Donald J. Trump agreed to attend a summit in spring 2018 with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. South Korea (officially the Republic of Korea, or ROK) issued the invitation and said that North Korea (officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) was ready to discuss giving up its nuclear weapons and missile programs. The meeting, which is to follow a scheduled April 27, 2018, summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jaein, would be the first ever between leaders of the two countries."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Lawrence, Susan V.; Manyin, Mark E. . . .
2018-04-19
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Nuclear Negotiations with North Korea: In Brief [December 4, 2017]
"U.S. Presidents have faced the question of whether to negotiate with the North Korean government to halt Pyongyang's nuclear program and ambitions. [...] Among the questions related to negotiations with Pyongyang are their utility, timing, scope, and goals. This report summarizes past formal nuclear and missile negotiations between the United States and North Korea, also known by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), and highlights some of the lessons and implications that can be drawn from these efforts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Nikitin, Mary Beth Dunham; Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.
2017-12-04
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U.S.-North Korea Relations [November 29, 2017]
From the Document: "North Korea has posed one of the most persistent U.S. foreign policy challenges of the post-Cold War period. With its recent advances in its nuclear and missile capabilities under 33-year-old leader Kim Jong-un, North Korea has evolved to become a grave security threat to the United States and its allies. Efforts to halt North Korea's nuclear weapons program have occupied the past four U.S. administrations. Since 2009, North Korea (officially known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, or DPRK) has rebuffed U.S. and South Korean offers to negotiate on denuclearization, and has continued to develop its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs. Although the weapons programs have been the primary focus of U.S. policy toward North Korea, other U.S. concerns include North Korea's illicit activities, such as counterfeiting currency and narcotics trafficking, attacks against South Korea, and egregious human rights violations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Chanlett-Avery, Emma; Manyin, Mark E.
2017-11-29
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North Korean Nuclear Challenge: Military Options and Issues for Congress [November 6, 2017]
"North Korea's apparently successful July 2017 tests of its intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities, along with the possibility that North Korea (DPRK) may have successfully miniaturized a nuclear warhead, have led analysts and policymakers to conclude that the window for preventing the DPRK from acquiring a nuclear missile capable of reaching the United States is closing. These events appear to have fundamentally altered U.S. perceptions of the threat the Kim Jong-un regime poses to the continental United States and the international community, and escalated the standoff on the Korean Peninsula to levels that have arguably not been seen since 1994. A key issue is whether or not the United States could manage and deter a nuclear-armed North Korea if it were to become capable of attacking targets in the U.S. homeland, and whether taking decisive military action to prevent the emergence of such a DPRK capability might be necessary. Either choice would bring with it considerable risk for the United States, its allies, regional stability, and global order. Trump Administration officials have stated that 'all options are on the table,' to include the use of military force to 'denuclearize'--generally interpreted to mean eliminating nuclear weapons and related capabilities from that area. One potential question for Congress is whether, and how, to employ the U.S. military to accomplish denuclearization, and whether using the military might result in miscalculation on either side, or perhaps even conflict escalation."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
McInnis, Kathleen J.; Feickert, Andrew; Manyin, Mark E. . . .
2017-11-06
