When officials say that the United States is a Pacific power, they are not just making an empty talking point. The U.S. has deep and enduring interests in the Asia Pacific, from business and trade deals with the world's fastest growing economies to serious national security threats from both rogue States and great powers alike. To conduct these important affairs, the U.S. has created a hub-and-spoke system of like-minded allies and partners throughout the region, a bloc of friends who can mutually reinforce each other's best interests. The Republic of Korea and Japan are perhaps the United States' most constant and important partners within the system. Economically developed and militarily capable, these two nations share similar democratic values and national security interests, which drives strong bilateral relations. Today's Asia poses innumerable challenges to those who believe in personal liberties, free markets, Democratic governance, and peaceful dispute resolution. Asia faces nuclear belligerence, territorial aggression, and serious competition from an ideology that supposes a less free society and economy brings greater success. In each of these realms, the United States' national interests are aligned with those of the Republic of Korea and of Japan.