By Chung Min-uck
There is an increasing possibility of a meeting between Korea and Japan’s foreign ministers on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit.
The possibility comes amid speculation that the two countries may seek ways to mend diplomatic relations, which further soured lately after President Lee Myung-bak’s unprecedented visit to the nation’s easternmost islets of Dokdo last month.
The two-day APEC summit will begin Saturday in Russia’s far eastern port city of Vladivostok.
Despite minor signs of easing, tensions still run high between the two neighboring nations due to Tokyo’s continuous claim over the rocky outcrops which are effectively controlled by Seoul, along with recent remarks from a high-profile Japanese politician denying Japan’s responsibility for the forced sexual slavery of Korean women during its colonial rule (1910-1945).
The suggestion of a meeting was bought up following a report from Japanese business daily Nihon Keizai Thursday that Japanese Foreign Minister Kochiro Gemba plans to meet his South Korean counterpart Kim Sung-hwan on the sidelines of the APEC conference.
Japanese newspaper Mainichi also quoted a Japanese foreign ministry official as saying Gemba’s attendance “aims to fully engage in normalizing bilateral relations” between its neighbors including South Korea and China.
According to the foreign ministry, Tokyo has yet to officially request Seoul for a bilateral meeting through foreign ministers but it would consider attending if such a meeting is proposed.
“As of now, we haven’t receive any calls regarding bilateral talks between the two foreign ministers. So there is no meeting scheduled,” said Cho Tai-young a foreign ministry spokesman, during a regular briefing, Thursday. “However, we will think about it if Tokyo makes an official proposal.”
Observers say the two countries will likely have a foreign ministers’ meeting, albeit not an official one at Vladivostok.
Gemba said at a press conference held after a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, “We should think of ways of how the tension will not spillover into Korea’s next administration. Tokyo will seek cooperation with Seoul in a coolheaded manner.”
Seoul scaled down its regular military exercise in waters near Dokdo on Friday eliminating a drill by the Marine Corps and landing maneuvers on the islets.
Insiders say the decision was made to ease the tension between Seoul and Tokyo.
Takashi Kurai, Japan’s deputy chief of mission to Seoul, visited the foreign ministry Friday afternoon to lodge a complaint regarding the military exercise.
A Cheong Wa Dae official denied a possible summit between President Lee and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda who are also attending the APEC meeting.
However, Noda said in a press conference Friday that “he will explain of Japan’s position (to Lee) if chances come outside the meeting” not ruling out the possibility of bilateral talks.
Lee plans to meet with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the first day of the summit. Lee left for Vladivostok Friday.
After attending the summit, Lee plans to visit Greenland, Norway and Kazakhstan for summit talks and return to Seoul on Sept. 14.
Meanwhile, some experts are pessimistic about reaching a breakthrough because Japan is still insisting that it will take the Dokdo issue unilaterally to the International Court of Justice. Though considered an invalid move, the Japanese side sees it as part of its strategy to raise international awareness that the islets lying in the waters separating the two nations are disputed territory.
Japan also reportedly lodged complaints with Washington regarding Seoul’s ongoing negotiations to extend its ballistic missile range to better cope with North Korea’s military threats. Japan believes the extension could place Japanese territory within South Korea’s missile range.