Seoul [South Korea], May 12: Leaders of Japan and Korea are seeking to build a new future together while not forgetting the past, according to the following article by Assoc . Japan Times recently.On May 7, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida began a two-day visit to South Korea, the first trip by a leader of the rising sun to Korea in 12 years.The strategic importance of Mr. Kishida's visit this time cannot be overstated. Although the visit is an opportunity to further build on the political effort that South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has previously launched to re-establish this relationship and move towards a more stable and cooperative future, , but Prime Minister Kishida and Japanese politicians need to do more to properly resolve the historical contradictions between the two countries.Efforts of President Yoon Suk YeolBefore coming to power, Mr. Yoon made it clear that he wanted to bring the Korea-Japan relationship back into a more realistic and mutually beneficial relationship. Saying and doing, President Yoon has made statements and policies in accordance with the roadmap he outlined.First, Mr. Yoon stated that the December 2015 agreement between the two countries, which stated that the issue of Korean women being "comfortable" for Japanese soldiers before and during World War II has been completely resolved and irreversible, will be the official policy of the government.Since becoming President of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Yoon has initiated many policies including the Strategy for a Free, Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific, showing interest in participating in Security Quadrilateral Dialogue (Quad) between Japan, India, USA and Australia. Most recently, President Yoon issued a statement in which he noted the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, which, as expected, angered Beijing. These steps are in line with the thinking of Japan and like-minded countries on long-term challenges in the Indo-Pacific.The activity of great significance was President Yoon's visit to Tokyo in March, the first visit by a South Korean leader in more than a decade.During the visit, President Yoon met with partners to discuss his new vision for South Korea-Japan relations, which have been subject to tension in recent years, especially on issues related to South Korea and Japan. history related to the period of Japanese colonization of the Korean peninsula in the early 20th century.The frosty relationship has spilled over into economic and security issues and threatens to undermine the region's stability. For example, in August 2019, South Korea was removed from Tokyo's white list of trusted trading partners. Under President Moon Jae-in's administration, South Korea threatened to withdraw from a Voluntary Joint Intelligence-Sharing Agreement on Military Security with Japan.Through this period of intense politicization, the Japan-Korea relationship, although complementary in nature, did not serve the national interests of either country.It also makes tripartite cooperation with the US difficult. Intelligence sharing, joint training at sea, a common approach to managing North Korea's proliferation of missiles and weapons of mass destruction, and other issues important to the region such as the cross-strait relations, stable sea lines of communication in the East and South China Seas, and cooperation in dealing with China are all affected.Japanese Prime Minister's ResponseTherefore, the meeting between Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon in Seoul has the potential to lay the foundation for the future relationship between the two countries, for tripartite cooperation with the US as well as for the broader geopolitical context. than in the Indo-Pacific.This is an opportunity to build bridges and find common ground on issues of mutual concern such as North Korea's nuclear program, regional security and economic security.However, the conflict over compensation for Koreans who were forced to work during the Japanese colonial period will continue to divide the two countries, similar to the issue of "comfort women". Both issues have been resolved legally and in the form of bilateral political agreements over the years, but the moral responsibility still needs to be fully addressed in Japan.Prime Minister Kishida and other politicians in Japan need to demonstrate that at the leadership level, there is a consistent message about the colonial past. Mr. Kishida's visit to the National Cemetery in Seoul to lay a wreath and concur with statements made by previous Japanese governments that have expressed apologies for Japan's colonial rule, are important gestures. .Equally significant is Mr Kishida's personal statement regarding the colonial era, that he was "stricken by the fact that many people suffered and felt grief in the harsh environment of the time". Japan can and should do more, but it shouldn't let history dictate the future.Prime Minister Kishida's visit to Seoul, President Yoon's invitation to the G7 Summit in May in Japan and a planned trilateral meeting between Japan, South Korea and the United States all suggest that the Japanese prime minister wants a more pragmatic relationship with Seoul that goes beyond bilateral relations. By incorporating Korea into a network of small-scale multilateral partnerships to deal with the region's impending challenges, Mr. Kishida is laying the groundwork for Seoul and Tokyo to expand their priority areas. common priorities and cooperation with like-minded countries.For substantive issues such as security, semiconductors, trade and coordination diplomacy, all are pragmatic and viable platforms for cooperation. Opportunities to strengthen cooperation in areas such as renewable energy, where both Japan and Korea are investing heavily, also exist. By working together, they can share expertise, resources, and drive the development of new technologies and infrastructure.The friends and allies of Japan and South Korea want them to succeed. During President Yoon's visit to the US in late April, US President Joe Biden publicly praised the South Korean leader for his political courage and personal commitment to diplomacy with Japan. .Canada, Australia, Germany and India also supported and praised the resumption of high-level relations and contacts between the two Northeast Asian countries. In the new Indo-Pacific Strategy, Canada clearly emphasizes the importance of both Japan and South Korea in their strategic engagement and is opening up new opportunities for security cooperation, including including through negotiation of a Joint Information Security Agreement with Japan and with Korea in the future.European observers such as Alexander Lipke and Elli-KatherinaPohlkamp of the European Council on Foreign Relations argue that allies and partners should encourage initiatives that integrate Japan and South Korea into structures structure through which they can jointly shoulder responsibility for the region. For example, they cite Korea's addition to the Quartet and note that such long-term cooperation with other partners can help limit dramatic policy reversals following government changes.Formula for building relationshipsThe growing trust-building that Mr. Yoon and Mr. Kishida are demonstrating with their shuttle diplomacy may be the right recipe for building a lasting relationship without forgetting the past.President Yoon's policy of re-establishing ties with Japan has yet to translate into widespread political support at home. Many Koreans still believe that Japan needs to do more on historical issues. Meanwhile in Japan, the fatigue of having to apologize is palpable, as many Japanese believe that Korea's continued change in the purpose of the apology makes finding a solution no longer possible. Feasibility.Both leaders will need to be sensitive to these populist views at home and find ways to forge tangible and practical avenues of cooperation to demonstrate to their people that cooperation is forward-looking. future but not forgetting the past is possible.Source: ThanhNien Newspaper
