Navigating Security Challenges: Exploring Japan and South Korea’s Strategic Cultures vis-à-vis North Korea : A comparative case study on Japan and South Korea’s strategic cultures and theory testing on the security challenge imposed by North Korea

Sammanfattning: The study focuses on the differences in Japan and South Korea’s strategic cultures, and whether the two countries are perceived to achieve their strategic goals. Furthermore, the study uses the strategic cultures of Japan and South Korea to understand how the two countries manage security challenges in the region and what strategic measures are made to counter anc deter such challenges, specifically the North Korean threats and provocations.  The study adopts a comparative case study research design, using a deductive approach to content analysis through which four concepts of the countries strategic cultures is selected: independency, military support, constitutional changes, and security challenges. Through these concepts, Japan and South Korea’s strategic culture is analysed and discussed to enable deeper understanding on the development and adaptability, using newsletter, statements, news articles, and previous research articles as material.  The study finds that the theory of strategic culture can be used to explain the differences of Japan and South Korea and how the countries are developing and adapting to the current climate. Furthermore, Japan and South Korea’s strategic cultures can be understood as ways of managing security threats and challenges imposed by North Korea. Through continuous work to adapt to the current climate and changes in the security challenges both in the region and globally and establish greater independency and self-reliance whilst still cooperating with the US, Japan and South Korea are perceived to achieve their goals.