apos; in the new international order. As it turned out, 'only when Japan consolidated its colonial empire (did) the Meiji leaders finally feel that Japan had been accepted as a full-fledged power by the Western nations' and thus imperialism was of crucial importance to a very proud nation. Therefore, the annexation of Korea was perhaps the upshot of this obsessive drive, an easy move into territory that was close to home and required little military resource. Not only was this politically advantageous, it also got the blessing and won the respect (along with victory in the war against the Russians) of both America and Britain, two influential world powers.
             However, while enjoying the increasing respect given by her European and American counterparts, Japan was far from secure in her position. Indeed, the intrusion of the Western powers in Asia caused 'a perennial anxiety over (Japan's) national security' and this concern for national security caused Japan to expand its influence over Korea as a 'pre-emptive (measure), aimed as much at denying territory to others as in enquiring it for Japan' . The peninsular of Korea therefore was of great importance defensively, especially for a country so aware of her late modernisation and thus seemingly inferior military (compared to that of the West). However, this can only justify Japan's actions in the treaty of Kanghwa and her subsequent involvement in Korea until 1905. Indeed, 'the debate over the future of Korea revolved around how best it could serve Japan's national defence needs' yet there was little need for defence when both the Chinese and Russian threats were eliminated in 1895 and 1905 respectively. After 1905, Japan had a completely free hand in Korea with all the four powers that may have had some interest in the area conceding Korea to the Meiji. Thus, security does not seem like a justifiable reason for Japan's ...