South Korea's tougher stance towards the North under its new conservative president will be welcomed by Tokyo, as Japan seeks to boost its military capabilities amid rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula and more broadly in the region, analysts say.
This week, South Korea and the United States fired missiles and staged a joint show of air strength in response to a barrage of short-range ballistic missiles launched by North Korea on Sunday.
It marked the second time South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has taken such a direct response since assuming office in May with a pledge to respond more forcefully if North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ignores warnings about military provocations and offers of dialogue.