There was a time like this.

(1)KBS News
(2)President Trump and Abe “Japan is an Alliance”
(3)”No, it’sure.
(4)Input 201711051115 Modification 201711051724
(5)When President Moon Jae In visited New York in September to attend the U.N. General Assembly, he reportedly made clear his position that Japan is not our ally during a luncheon with the leaders of South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.
(6)A high-ranking Cheong Wa Dae official said in a telephone interview with KBS on the 5th that President Moon firmly said at the Korea-U.S.-Japan summit that the U.S. is our ally, but Japan is not.
(7)He also said that U.S. President Donald Trump replied that he understood what President Moon said.

(1)The official responded to President Moon’s remarks beyond the Korea-U.S. alliance.
(2)He explained that he emphasized again that the ROK-US-Japan military alliance demanded by Japan was unacceptable.
(3)President Moon told Singapore Channel News Asia CNA on the 3rd.
(4)In the interview, the reason why South Korea, the U.S., and Japan’s cooperation should be close is because of North Korea’s
(5)It’s because we have to respond to nuclear and missile provocations. This cooperation is the three countries.
(6)It is not desirable to develop to the level of a military alliance.”
(7)A senior Cheong Wa Dae official said, “The Korea-U.S. alliance is firmly established in the public sentiment.
(8)”We should, but our relationship with Japan can only go to limited cooperation,” he said, stressing that if it leads to a military alliance, the people will not accept it.
(9)In an interview with Singapore’s Channel News Asia, President Moon pointed out that he does not think it would be desirable in relations with ASEAN countries if Japan walked the path of military power, citing North Korea’s nuclear weapons.