Cracks in the armour

President Clinton and Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto reaffirmed the U.S.-Japan security treaty during Clinton's recent visit to Japan. Despite this declaration, there are signs that the existing security framework may need more than maintenance. Issues that threaten Asian stability include the steadily declining presence of US troops in the region and the durability of the Japan-US alliance. The possibility that North Korea may soon collapse would remove the external threat that the US uses to justify its troop presence.