A nation must think before it acts.
East Asia’s geopolitical order has been static since the Korean armistice in 1953. Today its familiar face is transforming as China steadily bids for regional supremacy and North Korea rattles its nuclear saber. If history is any guide, however, the future of East Asia may well be determined by a pair of unlikely allies. Despite recent territorial clashes, Japan and South Korea are strengthening their ties as they awaken to their vital similarities and unite in a solid community of interests.