Abstract. Ramifications of the 2008–2009 crisis are forcing the countries of East Asia to search for a possibility of a sequential advance to formalization of regional cooperation, basing on the experience gained in 1990s. The evaluation of the obstacles existing on the way, as well as of perspectives to overcome them on a give-and-take basis, becomes a progressively critical task, which deserves full attention. Herewith, it makes sense to highlight the assessment of the situation in North-East Asia defining the transformation vector for the East Asia region in general.