For Japan and the U.S. — and more specifically Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Donald Trump — crisis could breed opportunity.
As the impasse with nuclear-armed North Korea reaches a critical juncture, the two allies have seen their security bonds grow ever closer, helping to bring long-held goals by both sides closer to fruition, experts say.
The two countries' stronger ties have been on full display in recent weeks, as Washington works to deter Pyongyang from further atomic and missile tests — often with the aid of its longtime ally, Tokyo.