ROK playing word games on its alliance with Japan

In his response to a question on the prospects of a US-Japan-ROK military alliance at a meeting of the Republic of Korea parliament's national defense commission on Thursday, ROK National Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said that there is not such a possibility and that calling their security cooperation that was improper, according to a report of the ROK's Yonhap News Agency.

That statement puts Lee on a different position from ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol, who has been actively seeking a reconciliation with Japan on historical issues.

However, this does not mean there is a division in the Yoon government, Lee's remarks are just a remedial measure to hedge against the strong opposition the Yoon government's pro-Japan diplomacy has sparked at home — the latest poll shows about 58 percent of those surveyed in the country oppose the sharp turn the country has taken on historical issues with Japan.