Japan "downgrades" South Korea in annual defense report

Japan has given South Korea the cold shoulder in an annual defense report released Friday, effectively downgrading Seoul's status as an important security cooperation partner, as relations between the two Asian neighbors have sunk to the lowest level in many years over issues of wartime history and compensation.In a chapter explaining Japan's security cooperation with countries other than its most important ally, the United States, South Korea is mentioned fourth, down from second in the previous white paper, after Australia, India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Japanese off…READ FULL ARTICLE