This is the first in two articles about what changes are needed on President Park Geun-hye's foreign policy toward Japan and North Korea to promote her ''Unification is a bonanza'' initiative. — ED.
By Yi Whan-woo
South Korea's souring relations with Japan could hinder its efforts to tackle North Korea's nuclear threats and, eventually, inter-Korean unification, according to experts.
They added strained ties could also force Seoul to pay the entire tab for rebuilding the impoverished North as outlined in President Park Geun-hye's unification initiatives.
"Security and the economy are the most crucial areas that require South Korea to collaborate with Japan to unite the two Koreas," said Lee Won-deog, a professor at the School of International Area Studies at Kookmin University. "Japan is likely to be uncooperative if Seoul-Tokyo relations continue to worsen."
Park Cheol-hee, the director of the Institute for Japanese Studies at Seoul National University (SNU), held a similar view.
"It's basic knowledge that inter-Korean unification requires international collaboration, including with neighboring countries such as Japan," he said.
In a speech during her March visit to Dresden, Germany, the President unveiled initiatives for humanity, co-prosperity and integration on the Korean Peninsula.
Her Dresden Initiative assumes that a unified Korea will be free from the fear of war and nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang instead has repeatedly carried out missile launches this year, raising concerns over nuclear threats using those weapons.
However, the six-party talks aimed at ending the military state's nuclear program through negotiation have been stalemated for years. The members of the talks are the two Koreas, Japan, the United States, China and Russia.
"Japan is a key country in resolving Pyongyang's nuclear issues and it's crucial to enhance our collaboration with Tokyo to settle the matter," Lee said.
Prof. Park cited speculation over possible weakened trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Tokyo and Washington against Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program following an agreement between the Kim Jong-un regime and Shinzo Abe Cabinet in May.
Excluding its regional security allies — South Korea and the U.S. — Japan has had a breakthrough in relations with North Korea since Pyongyang agreed to re-open an investigation into Japanese nationals kidnapped by the reclusive state in the 1970s and ‘80s.
The May deal was made based on the Pyongyang-Tokyo summit in September 2002. Back then, the communist regime admitted the abductions and the two sides agreed to resolve the matter.
In 2002, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also reached a deal on Tokyo's compensation to Pyongyang over Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula in the early 20th century.
That agreement did not make progress due to hostile relations between the two countries.
According to Lee, Japan is still obliged to make compensation to North Korea. And Tokyo is likely to refuse to carry out its obligation and render economic support to a unified Korea if South Korea absorbs the North.
"The U.S. and China do not have such obligations. It's important for us to engage in talks with Japan so that we can discuss the Pyongyang-Tokyo deal on compensation over the past," he said.
Lee said the amount could reach over tens of billions considering Tokyo paid $500 million to South Korea through the South Korea-Japan Basic Treaty signed in June 1965 to normalize relations. The agreements included issues on the mechanism for the settlement of disputes.
The Dresden Initiative includes South Korea investing in infrastructure-building along with the construction of multi-farming complexes in North Korea, collaborative projects with China and Russia, and joint natural resource development projects.
The SNU professor said Japan's economic support for this will be crucial.
"The 2002 summit indicates Japan has a will to support North Korea financially and we need to capitalize on it in our efforts toward inter-Korean unification," he said.
By Yi Whan-woo
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| President Park Geun-hye |
They added strained ties could also force Seoul to pay the entire tab for rebuilding the impoverished North as outlined in President Park Geun-hye's unification initiatives.
"Security and the economy are the most crucial areas that require South Korea to collaborate with Japan to unite the two Koreas," said Lee Won-deog, a professor at the School of International Area Studies at Kookmin University. "Japan is likely to be uncooperative if Seoul-Tokyo relations continue to worsen."
Park Cheol-hee, the director of the Institute for Japanese Studies at Seoul National University (SNU), held a similar view.
"It's basic knowledge that inter-Korean unification requires international collaboration, including with neighboring countries such as Japan," he said.
In a speech during her March visit to Dresden, Germany, the President unveiled initiatives for humanity, co-prosperity and integration on the Korean Peninsula.
Her Dresden Initiative assumes that a unified Korea will be free from the fear of war and nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang instead has repeatedly carried out missile launches this year, raising concerns over nuclear threats using those weapons.
However, the six-party talks aimed at ending the military state's nuclear program through negotiation have been stalemated for years. The members of the talks are the two Koreas, Japan, the United States, China and Russia.
"Japan is a key country in resolving Pyongyang's nuclear issues and it's crucial to enhance our collaboration with Tokyo to settle the matter," Lee said.
Prof. Park cited speculation over possible weakened trilateral cooperation among Seoul, Tokyo and Washington against Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program following an agreement between the Kim Jong-un regime and Shinzo Abe Cabinet in May.
Excluding its regional security allies — South Korea and the U.S. — Japan has had a breakthrough in relations with North Korea since Pyongyang agreed to re-open an investigation into Japanese nationals kidnapped by the reclusive state in the 1970s and ‘80s.
The May deal was made based on the Pyongyang-Tokyo summit in September 2002. Back then, the communist regime admitted the abductions and the two sides agreed to resolve the matter.
In 2002, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi also reached a deal on Tokyo's compensation to Pyongyang over Japan's occupation of the Korean Peninsula in the early 20th century.
That agreement did not make progress due to hostile relations between the two countries.
According to Lee, Japan is still obliged to make compensation to North Korea. And Tokyo is likely to refuse to carry out its obligation and render economic support to a unified Korea if South Korea absorbs the North.
"The U.S. and China do not have such obligations. It's important for us to engage in talks with Japan so that we can discuss the Pyongyang-Tokyo deal on compensation over the past," he said.
Lee said the amount could reach over tens of billions considering Tokyo paid $500 million to South Korea through the South Korea-Japan Basic Treaty signed in June 1965 to normalize relations. The agreements included issues on the mechanism for the settlement of disputes.
The Dresden Initiative includes South Korea investing in infrastructure-building along with the construction of multi-farming complexes in North Korea, collaborative projects with China and Russia, and joint natural resource development projects.
The SNU professor said Japan's economic support for this will be crucial.
"The 2002 summit indicates Japan has a will to support North Korea financially and we need to capitalize on it in our efforts toward inter-Korean unification," he said.
