Stronger trilateral ties with US crucial for S. Korea-Japan relations: top Japan envoy
Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima makes a speech during a forum in Seoul, April 22. Yonhap
Enhancing trilateral partnership with the United States is vital for the bilateral relations between South Korea and Japan, given the serious geopolitical landscape in the region and beyond, the top Japanese envoy to Seoul said Thursday.
Japanese Ambassador to South Korea Koichi Mizushima made the remarks, describing the two Asian nations as important neighbors that can address the tense global security challenges, including Russia's invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's evolving missile provocations and its growing military ties with Russia.
"It is no exaggeration that there is no longer any reason for Japan and South Korea to remain at odds," Mizushima said during a session of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity.
"Given the challenging international environment surrounding both countries, strengthening relations with the United States and promoting trilateral cooperation among Japan, the United States and South Korea is essential," he said.
Mizushima highlighted the importance of close coordination between the two countries regardless of the outcome of South Korea's upcoming presidential election, which will take place next Tuesday.
Mizushima also pointed out that bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo are "closely linked" to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific, underscoring the need to continue cooperation not only in terms of security but other shared values, such as democracy and human rights.
"I believe the relationship between South Korea and Japan will continue to develop through various frameworks for cooperation," he said.
The session was held to mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of the two countries' bilateral relations, set for late June. South Korea was under Japan's colonial rule from 1910-45.
As the anniversary approaches, attention is turning to whether the two countries will issue a new declaration on bilateral relations, similar to past landmark statements by their leaders, such as the 1998 declaration by South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
In the declaration, the two leaders called for overcoming the past and building new relations, with Obuchi expressing remorse for the "horrendous damage and pain" Japan's colonial rule inflicted on the Korean people.
Kenichiro Sasae, a former Japanese vice foreign minister who spoke on the panel, said that "open and heartfelt" communication between the leaders would be a prerequisite for any new announcement.
"Even if a document is produced, it will lack the spirit without a warm atmosphere. It's important to create that kind of mood that makes such discussions possible," he said.
If there were to be a new declaration, it should be "upgraded" to address current security challenges, such as how to cooperate in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and how to handle emerging cyber threats and military technologies, Sasae said.
"The focus should be on advancing tangible, practical cooperation," he added. "But achieving that would be difficult without a foundation of trust."