Why a larger Soviet presence would not erase Japan-Korea tensions

If the Soviet Union gained more territory in East Asia after the Second World War, would Japan and Korea cooperate more closely out of fear?

No. The answer regards the hostility between Japan and Korea as too deep for a larger Soviet presence alone to bring them together.

A larger Soviet presence would not by itself overcome the hostility between Japan and Korea. The answer stresses the depth of Korean resentment toward Japan and notes that relations were also difficult from the Japanese side. Those tensions had taken time to improve and remained sensitive. Shared strategic fear therefore cannot be assumed to produce closer cooperation.