Audio In this episode of the Essential Geopolitics podcast from RANE, guest host Ryan Bohl speaks with Asia-Pacific analyst Scott Kardas. In a recent article for RANE Worldview, Kardas wrote that "South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is attempting to make good on his campaign promise to restore and re-normalize relations with Japan, with Park Jin, the South Korean foreign minister, regularly meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi, to find ways to resolve bilateral disagreements. South Korean and Japanese relations traditionally go through an up-and-down phase depending on the political leanings of the South Korean president, while Japanese views are slightly more standard in what they want out of South Korea for good relations." The discussion centers around whether a full rapprochement is possible, or more likely to focus on steps to normalize trade relations and increase intelligence sharing.