By Kim Rahn
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's remarks that his government will screen refugees coming from Korea in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula are drawing criticism here.
Critics say that he is stoking anxiety among people in Japan and neighboring countries by overreacting to the tension on the peninsula.
In a parliamentary session Monday, Abe said the Japanese government is preparing necessary measures regarding possible refugees in the case of a major armed conflict on the peninsula. He made the remarks as Washington is intensifying its warnings against any possible provocations by North Korea, and Pyongyang in response is pledging counterattacks against any U.S. use of military force.
"We assume we would take a series of actions, including processes to admit landing, set up and manage accommodation, and screen (refugees) to decide whether we should protect them or not," Abe was quoted as saying by The Japan Times.
The Prime Minister also said his government has been coming up with plans to evacuate about 60,000 Japanese nationals from the South in the case of a war.
Seoul expressed displeasure at Abe's remarks.
"He needs to refrain from making remarks which may cause misunderstanding with a hypothetical situation about the peninsula or which can have negative influence on the peace and security of the peninsula," Korea's foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said in a media briefing Tuesday.
On April 11, Japan's foreign ministry also posted an article on its website to advise its people traveling to Korea to stay informed on the situation here. Following the advisory, the Korean government sent a message to Japan through a diplomatic channel and expressed concerns that such an advisory at this timing could cause unnecessary anxiety, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
The Japanese government answered that the issuance followed enquiries from tourists and it was just calling attention to the situation, the newspaper reported.
Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, also called for evacuation plans for Japanese in Korea because "Seoul could be enveloped in flames."
Earlier this month, Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Yasumasa Nagamine returned to Korea 85 days after the Japanese government recalled him in protest against the installation of a statue symbolizing Korean wartime sex slaves. Regarding his return, the Sankei Shimbun said it was aimed at setting up detailed plans to protect Japanese people in South Korea in the case of a war, although the Japanese government said it was to collect information on the May 9 presidential election.
Such remarks and reports are agitating Japanese people, and it is said Abe is taking advantage of the tension to divert public attention from the corruption allegations involving his wife Akie Abe.
The scandal lowered Abe's approval rating by some 10 percentage points to the mid-50 percent, but the rate rebounded to 60 percent last weekend amid the rising tension.
Another suspicion is that, by using Pyongyang as an excuse, Tokyo is attempting to revise its pacifist Constitution to restore the country to a full war-waging power.
South Korean citizens criticized Abe's moves.
"Do you take advantage of Korea as your approval rating plummets following your wife's scandal?" an internet user with ID yell**** said.
"This is Japan's real intention: it is waiting for a war on the peninsula because the war will revive its economy and be an excuse to make its Self-Defense Forces stronger," another user, leedae***, said.
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| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe |
Critics say that he is stoking anxiety among people in Japan and neighboring countries by overreacting to the tension on the peninsula.
In a parliamentary session Monday, Abe said the Japanese government is preparing necessary measures regarding possible refugees in the case of a major armed conflict on the peninsula. He made the remarks as Washington is intensifying its warnings against any possible provocations by North Korea, and Pyongyang in response is pledging counterattacks against any U.S. use of military force.
"We assume we would take a series of actions, including processes to admit landing, set up and manage accommodation, and screen (refugees) to decide whether we should protect them or not," Abe was quoted as saying by The Japan Times.
The Prime Minister also said his government has been coming up with plans to evacuate about 60,000 Japanese nationals from the South in the case of a war.
Seoul expressed displeasure at Abe's remarks.
"He needs to refrain from making remarks which may cause misunderstanding with a hypothetical situation about the peninsula or which can have negative influence on the peace and security of the peninsula," Korea's foreign ministry spokesman Cho June-hyuck said in a media briefing Tuesday.
On April 11, Japan's foreign ministry also posted an article on its website to advise its people traveling to Korea to stay informed on the situation here. Following the advisory, the Korean government sent a message to Japan through a diplomatic channel and expressed concerns that such an advisory at this timing could cause unnecessary anxiety, according to the Asahi Shimbun.
The Japanese government answered that the issuance followed enquiries from tourists and it was just calling attention to the situation, the newspaper reported.
Shigeru Ishiba, former secretary-general of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, also called for evacuation plans for Japanese in Korea because "Seoul could be enveloped in flames."
Earlier this month, Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Yasumasa Nagamine returned to Korea 85 days after the Japanese government recalled him in protest against the installation of a statue symbolizing Korean wartime sex slaves. Regarding his return, the Sankei Shimbun said it was aimed at setting up detailed plans to protect Japanese people in South Korea in the case of a war, although the Japanese government said it was to collect information on the May 9 presidential election.
Such remarks and reports are agitating Japanese people, and it is said Abe is taking advantage of the tension to divert public attention from the corruption allegations involving his wife Akie Abe.
The scandal lowered Abe's approval rating by some 10 percentage points to the mid-50 percent, but the rate rebounded to 60 percent last weekend amid the rising tension.
Another suspicion is that, by using Pyongyang as an excuse, Tokyo is attempting to revise its pacifist Constitution to restore the country to a full war-waging power.
South Korean citizens criticized Abe's moves.
"Do you take advantage of Korea as your approval rating plummets following your wife's scandal?" an internet user with ID yell**** said.
"This is Japan's real intention: it is waiting for a war on the peninsula because the war will revive its economy and be an excuse to make its Self-Defense Forces stronger," another user, leedae***, said.
