For many South Koreans, Japan poses the second-biggest military threat following North Korea, according to a survey conducted by the East Asia Institute in Seoul and Japanese think-tank Genron NPO.

The results of the survey, released Thursday, are an indication of South Koreans' discomfort with Japan's view of history as well as its move to expand the role of its military. Over 46-percent of South Korean respondents chose Japan as the most threatening country, following North Korea, with over 80-percent.

Last year, in a similar poll, Japan ranked third, trailing North Korea and China. Some 2-thousand South Korean and Japanese adults took part in this year's survey, conducted in May and June.