With both Japan and Korea electing new leaderships last month, how Prime Minister Abe and President-Elect Park will be able to improve bilateral relations is under close scrutiny. While continued threats from North Korea and China’s ever-growing military clout should bring the two countries closer together, ongoing territorial disputes and other issues still prove to be stumbling blocks in improving diplomatic ties. What are the challenges to relations between Japan and Korea in the longer-term? How will the U.S. pivot to Asia impact Tokyo and Seoul’s respective roles in ensuring stability in the Asia-Pacific region?