Of all the Asian countries, Japan faces an aging workforce itself. The only way Japan's economic recovery can continue is to ally itself to one of its neighbors. Despite the upswing in Asia's economy and their chance to become a major player on the global economic stage, North Korea's simmering problems could, at any time may explode and hamper the healthy economy of its neighboring countries. Meanwhile, Russia holds a strategic position as a giant oil and gas exporter yet it has yet to respond to the shifting alliances of the 21st century. Russia's medical care is poor. As a country its infrastructure, over the expanse of the vast continent, needs to be fully restructured. It has social problems and a low birth-rate. This is not a recipe for economic growth although some of its satellite countries are eager to take over and contribute economically to the demographic shift of allegiances and alliances.