gton
The rekindling of a row between Japan and South Korea over symbols of the "comfort women" could hinder efforts to strengthen security cooperation between Washington's two key Asian allies, according to an American scholar versed in Tokyo-Seoul ties.
"Japan-South Korea tensions undermine U.S. interests because robust trilateral coordination is essential for effectively handling North Korea, or even China," Celeste Arrington, an assistant professor of political science at George Washington University, said in an interview.