Japan gives South Korea cold shoulder as security partner in paper

Japan will effectively lower South Korea's standing as an important security cooperation partner in this year's white paper on defense, a Defense Ministry source said Friday, reflecting the worsening of bilateral ties.In a chapter dedicated to Japan's security cooperation with countries other than its closest ally, the United States, South Korea came second in 2018. But its place has fallen to fourth this year after Australia, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, according to a draft white paper on defense for 2019."In effect, (the order) means a downgrade" for South Korea,…READ FULL ARTICLE