“In the past we have been the “Big Brother” protecting them. They have been a good ally and have been helpful we have asked them”
Yes, you are right but that would not be hard to do in this case for the reasons I mentioned. As I wrote above, S. Korea is a modern industrialized nation. It has about twice the population of the north. IIt is prosperous, stable, and peaceful. It also has a large, well-trained military including an airforce and navy. There is no reason that the nation of S. Korea should not be given the honor of standing on their own while the (using Confucian term)older brother stands by beaming with pride. In fact, I think a majority of S. Koreans would welcome that.
I think that these same arguments could be used for Japan. This would not be a retreat but a victory because US troops are no longer needed to protect those countries.
Agree as long as we do the diplomatic psychological PR correctly.
God Himself only knows what will transpire. China isn’t as concerned about being Confucian (which could be dealt with sanely by a more or less Christianized West) as being Communist. And so is North Korea. Those are dangerous spiritual and political wild cards.