Pete comment - Yet again South Koreans fail to appreciate how some Japanese journalists, maybe Takabumi Suzuoki(?) know more about South Korea's strategic imperatives than South Koreans do. And Americans know more than South Koreans as well.
--------------------------------
Anonymous kindly provided the comment below on August 30, 2021:
"The withdrawal US troops from Afghanistan shows serious impact on South Korea [1, 2]. Behaviour of South Korea toward USA resembles that of Afghanistan [1, 3, 4].
[1] https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2021/08271701/?all=1
South Korea is protected by USA, but, it does no
[2] https://www.chosun.com/international/us/2021/08/17/GC3YEOUE6BDMNNJEKV6DW3MARE/
“Afghanistan's reality... If it does not serve the national interest of the United States, I will leave at any time.”
[3] https://www.foreignaffairs.com/print/node/1127675
“Why the Taliban Won”
[4] https://www.voakorea.com/korea/korea-politics/us-korea-joint-drill
US experts "Afghanistan crisis reminding South Korea of the importance of military training... Stop misjudgement between North Korea and China""
PETE COMMENT
That South Korea spends 2.8% of its GDP on defense and Japan, only 1%, is immaterial. After Japan’s latest period of occupying Korea (1910-1945) Japan’s knows South Korea’s geo-strategic needs better. That South Koreans determine their own attitudes to North Korea and China merely exemplifies South Korea’s adolescent ingratitude to Japan and America.