During a time of crisis, it is instructive to examine the national press of Japan and Korea, two economic allies that view each other with suspicion. The Japanese press is relatively free and liberal-oriented on the domestic scene but is closely aligned with big business and government with regard to international concerns. The South Korean government uses all the major press and mass media outlets to foster and promote the official desires of President Park. The Korean Central Intelligence Agency has infiltrated every newsroom of every newspaper and broadcasting station in Korea to insure a consistent Korean editorial policy on all domestic and international issues. For both countries, the maintenance of diplomatic and economic relations is a priority. In April 1974, two Japanese students living in Korea were arrested and charged with supplying money and materials for demonstrations and with scheming to build a communist-directed power base in Korean colleges. A study of the differing reports of the news agencies of each country concerning this crisis is instructive in demonstrating how elusive the study of comparative press systems is. (TJ)