President-elect Joe Biden will significantly change the United States’ relationship with allied countries. In Northeast Asia, this will weigh heavily on South Korea and what approach the U.S.-ROK alliance will take when dealing with the DPRK.

However, the world should not expect quick, positive changes upon Biden’s inauguration — instead, it should anticipate growing pains in rebuilding trust and in coordinating a joint approach to North Korea. 

Even if Biden addresses all the tension points between Trump and Seoul, that doesn’t necessarily mean that relations can automatically return to what they were