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Japan Must Take Sincere Attitude Toward Korea
President-elect Lee Myung-bak has said he would not call on Japan to apologize for or reflect on its wartime atrocities in order to forge future-oriented ties with the former colonial power. He made the remarks during a press conference for foreign correspondents in Seoul last Thursday. No wonder Lee's intention to seek better relations between the two countries is based on his much-touted ``pragmatic'' diplomacy.
It appears that Seoul and Tokyo have now a much better opportunity than ever to mend ties with each other. In fact, Lee has frequently stressed that he will cement ties with four powers surrounding the Korean Peninsula _ the United States, China, Japan and Russia. He sent his special envoys to the four nations that have also great expectations for stronger ties with South Korea under the next President.
Particularly, Japan wants to take advantage of Lee's election to mend ties with South Korea that deteriorated under the leadership of outgoing liberal President Roh Moo-hyun. On Wednesday, Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda said he hoped to visit Seoul to attend Lee's inauguration set for Feb. 25. Fukuda expressed his wish during a meeting with Lee's brother Rep. Lee Sang-deuk, who visited Japan as a special envoy of the President-elect.
The incoming President Lee talked with the Japanese leader over the phone after his election last month. Fukuda was quoted as telling Lee that he would like to create a new era in Korea-Japan relations. He also expressed his hope to restart an agreement suspended by Roh for the two countries to hold two summits a year. We welcome such gestures on both sides to improve ties.
It is high time for the two Asian neighbors to end their past animosity and move toward cooperation and prosperity. We have to realize that preoccupation with the past only serves as a stumbling block to a future partnership. Seoul and Tokyo ought to develop new relations to step up economic cooperation, increase cultural exchanges and work together for security.
However, the two countries are required to fix pending issues on wartime atrocities, history distortion in school textbooks and Japan's sovereignty claim over South Korea's easternmost islets of Dokdo. Japan also ought to acknowledge and apologize for the ``comfort women,'' a euphemism for sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II. Japan must recognize that parliaments of the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands and the European Union have adopted a resolution condemning Japan over the comfort women.
Incoming President Lee should take into account national sentiment against Japan. Some critics question his pragmatic diplomacy, especially in regard to Japan. They criticize Lee for lacking proper recognition of history in not asking for Japan's apology. We hope the next president will make real progress in ties with Japan without sacrificing national pride. |
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