Rival parties welcome reconciliatory moves
By Do Je-hae
Political parties unanimously welcomed the visits of the leaders of Korea and Japan to events hosted by the respective embassies of the two countries today.
President Park Geun-hye attended an anniversary reception hosted by the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, while Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appeared at a corresponding event organized by the Korean Embassy in Tokyo.
The two countries marked the 1965 treaty signed during the Park Chung-hee administration that normalized diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The visits are seen as a sign that the leaders of both countries are determined to improve ties, particularly at a landmark occasion in bilateral relations.
The parties expressed their hope that the visits would expedite a summit in the coming months.
“We hope the leaders will meet as soon as possible,” Rep. Kim Young-woo, a spokesman for the New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD), told reporters Monday.
“The visits of the two leaders will serve as new momentum to mend bilateral relations.”
Some lawmakers underlined the importance of Japan apologizing for its colonial rule of Korea (1910-1945) as a precondition for a recovery of relations.
“To fully restore ties, Japan needs to sincerely apologize and reflect on its colonial rule of Korea,” Rep. Kim Eul-dong, a Supreme Council member of the ruling Saenuri Party said in a meeting Monday.
“Prime Minister Abe needs to include such messages in his speech on the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II in August. That speech can be the foundation for resolving historical conflict between the two countries.”
The issue of “comfort women,” victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese army before and during World War II has become a major roadblock to bilateral relations. Many Koreans are expecting a message of apology by the Japanese leader.
“To restore relations, it is most important that we see a heartfelt apology from Abe in August for the damage and sorrow that the country inflicted on these women,” said Saenuri Party Rep. Choung Byoung-gug, a member of the National Assembly Foreign Affairs & Unification Committee.
The Assembly has denounced Japan for whitewashing its wartime history.
Following Abe’s U.S. Congressional speech on April 29, the Assembly passed a resolution in May that criticized Abe for not facing history and called on him to apologize for the wartime atrocities.
It slammed Abe for barely touching upon the issue of sexual slavery in his U.S. Congress speech.
The resolution warned that a series of moves by Abe could have a negative impact on Korea-Japan relations, citing his visit to the Yasukuni Shrine where war criminals are among those commemorated, as well as his attempt to bolster Japan’s military.