There is so much going on, I wonder who can even keep track anymore.
Lately, it's been accepted that Australia, Japan, North Korea etc., are "Western" countries. And Japan will still sit & dine at the NATO table.
So, geography/ race/ religion / size/ gender, aren't really a thing anymore.
I'd carefully say the relevant question is whether a country is a ( friend of)
" democracy" or " autocracy".
But if an autocratic country has resources and is willing to " trade under the right conditions "; their status can be upgraded to acquaintant or a friend.
Japan bending over and even working to change their constitution to appease their Masters, except they are seen as nothing more than proxy war puppets. America is preparing for World War 3, they will eventually attack China or North Korea claiming one of their usual excuses, then they'll send Japan to fight, without the protection of NATO.
The DPRK invaded the ROK, this is why the US got involved. Yes, the US has been in the wrong many times, but what you are claiming just isn’t true at all.
Usa invaded korea and set up the rok as a puppet gov, then they bombed the rest of the country until 20% of the people were dead and 80% of the houses were destroyed.