Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung attend a joint press conference after their meeting at the Prime Minister's Office on the afternoon of August 23. (©Courtesy of the Cabinet Secretariat)
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South Korean President Lee Jae-myung met with Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba while he was in Japan on Saturday, August 23. The two leaders confirmed the importance of developing stable bilateral relations and strengthening trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States, and South Korea.
They also pledged to work closely together to address North Korea's complete denuclearization and Russia-North Korea military cooperation. Furthermore, Lee voiced support for the Japanese government's policy of seeking an immediate resolution of the abductions of Japanese nationals by North Korea.
During his visit, Lee said Japan is "a partner with whom we can work together in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment." Therefore, he asserted, he chose to visit Japan before going on to the US.
His decision to stop in Japan is commendable. Both Japan and South Korea are allies of the United States and cooperation between these neighboring countries is vital for regional peace and stability.
Ignoring China
It is also noteworthy that the two leaders issued a joint statement which mentioned "North Korea" by name. However, it missed an important opportunity when it did not explicitly mention "China."
How to deter the outbreak of a "Taiwan contingency" is a pressing question. It was regrettable that the two sides did not issue a clear and powerful message that they would do their best to do just that.
In the past, Lee even once commented, "Whatever happens in the Taiwan Strait has nothing to do with us." On the contrary, if South Korea opts to take an opportunistic stance in its relations with China, it will further stimulate Beijing's ambitions to annex Taiwan.
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Lee says he aims for a future-oriented Japan-South Korea relationship. But such rhetoric must be accompanied by appropriate actions.
In July, after the Lee administration took office, the South Korean military conducted training in the waters around Takeshima in Shimane Prefecture. Such behavior can hardly be considered "future-oriented."
Lee also allowed written interviews with The Sankei Shimbun and other media outlets on the occasion of his visit. In those, he said that he would abide by past agreements between Seoul and Tokyo concerning thorny bilateral issues such as comfort women and "forced" (wartime) laborers. However, it is natural for governments to abide by their promises even when there has been a change of administration.
At the same time, Lee has made statements urging Japan to once again make new apologies and offer new responses. For example, he said, "We would like to work together to find a solution that will fully restore the honor of the victims." He also said, "The process [of Japan] acknowledging the facts, apologizing and offering sincere condolences to the people involved is important."
60 Years Since Treaty, Settlement of Claims
This year marks 80 years since the end of the war and 60 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea. It is concerning that South Korean politicians still continue to repeatedly make such outlandish statements.
The comfort women and wartime labor issues regularly brought up by South Korea are unreasonable accusations that distort historical facts. Furthermore, issues relating to Japan's period of rule over Korea were definitively resolved by the Treaty on Basic Relations and Settlement of Claims between Japan and the Republic of Korea, signed on June 22, 1965, at the time of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
The South Korean president must bear in mind the need to act in accordance with the common sense of the international community and international law. Unless it does so, building a stable relationship between Japan and South Korea will remain forever impossible.
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Author: Editorial Board, The Sankei Shimbun
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