President Obama is meeting with the leaders of Japan and South Korea – two of Asia’s largest energy consumers – today in The Hague. Easing strained relations between Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan and President Park Geun-hye of South Korea could help the US work more closely with these important allies on critical regional issues, including Japan’s nuclear program, LNG imports, Chinese relations and the North Korean nuclear situation.

However, getting everyone around the same table is easier said than done:

“The diplomacy of northeast Asia is a little like junior prom: Cathy won’t sit with Jamie, but maybe she would if Sally comes over and sits with them,” said Michael J. Green, a senior adviser on Asia in the George W. Bush administration. “The U.S. can never solve these problems, but we can be quite effective in managing them.” – New York Times