한일관계의 현주소, 그리고 앞으로 나아갈 방향
With Abe's ritual offering to that controversial shrine in mind,... we thought it would be a good opportunity to look at where relations stand now... between South Korea and Japan.
These days,... Seoul and Tokyo are by-and-large aligned on policy when it comes to North Korea,
but as our Cha Sang-mi reports, there are a bunch of issues that prevent ties from being more friendly than they are.
"It's been over seven decades since South Korea gained independence from Japanese colonial rule in 1945, but historical issues between the two countries still linger. This statue reminds people of one of those issues, that of the so-called 'comfort women'."
The diplomatic row over the sexual enslavement of Korean women by the Japanese military during the Second World War has been a long-standing one, a source of constant friction between the two East Asian countries.
Another prickly issue is the territorial row over South Korea's easternmost Dokdo Island.
It's clear South Korea and Japan aren't on the same page on a slew of issues.
"Public sentiment outday is a little bit tired of the issue being raised constantly by the Korean side. We think we have finished this issue by compensations and others, but it seems the Korean side keeps coming back."
"The Moon Jae-in administration has laid out a two-track approach toward Japan. That is taking a protective stance, in principal, when it comes to territorial disputes, but establishing mutual relations that look to the future in politics, economy, and security.”
Doctor Nishihara also says South Korea is very important for Japan's security, as U.S. troops stationed both on Korean and Japanese soil can cooperate.
When it comes to the future of Seoul-Tokyo ties, Professor Nakato says Japan's alliance with the U.S. has always been cornerstone of Japan's foreign policy, but things look a bit different now.
"But at the same time, dealing with North Korean issues, cooperation with South Korea is essential. Trilateral cooperation between the United States, South Korea and Japan has been actually the basic operational principle of Japan's North Korean policies."
Burying historical animosities may be difficult, but one thing is clear: both sides agree on the need to work together towards mutual prosperity and establishing lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Cha Sang-mi, Arirang News.
