The "demons of history" continue to haunt Japan-South Korea relations; in 2001, they were particularly disruptive. Yet much of the recent friction in Tokyo-Seoul relations has been the product of domestic politics within each country, rather than the relationship itself. The proof is in the positive trajectory relations have taken in recent months as the two governments worked together on economic and security issues, as well as the unprecedented co-hosting of the 2002 World Cup soccer tournament.