March 19, 2015 – “Rift between US allies Japan and SKorea weighs on Obama’s Asia policy” (US News)

The Japan-South Korea rift has complicated U.S. efforts to forge a stronger security alliance against common foe North Korea and to U.S. strategy aimed at countering China’s rise. Japan and South Korea host 80,000 U.S. troops, the backbone of America’s military presence in the Asia-Pacific.”