Japan PM tells South Korea it’s time to fix strained ties
Japan’s new Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on
Thursday held his first telephone call with his South Korean counterpart since
taking office, telling President Moon Jae-in that the neighbors should work to
resolve their strained relations.
The talks, proposed by South Korea, were the first
contact in nine months between leaders of the two countries. Relations between
Japan and South Korea deteriorated to their worst levels in years under Suga’s
predecessor, Shinzo Abe, a military hawk viewed by some as not apologetic
enough over Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula from 1910-1945.
“I told President Moon that relations between the
two countries are in a very severe condition right now and we should not leave
this unresolved,(asterisk) Suga told reporters. “Japan and South Korea are
extremely important neighbors to each other. In dealing with North Korea and
other issues, I believe Japan-South Korea and Japan-U.S. cooperation are
crucial.”
Their current dispute stems from South Korea’s
demands for compensation for Korean laborers abused by Japanese companies
during World War II. South Korea’s Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese
companies to compensate the aging Korean plaintiffs. Japan insists that all
compensation matters were settled under a 1965 treaty.
The dispute spilled over into trade and military
issues, complicating cooperation between the two key American allies. Moon
accused Abe’s government of weaponizing trade to retaliate over the legal
dispute.
Suga did not give any details Thursday about steps
Japan would take to improve the relationship. He appeared to indicate Japan’s
position on the compensation was unchanged and he put the burden of easing
tensions on South Korea.
“Based on Japan’s consistent positions on the
various problems, I plan to continue to strongly urge South Korea to take
appropriate actions,” Suga said.
Asked if there was any sign of a thaw, Suga declined
to comment.
Suga took office last week after Abe stepped down
due to poor health.
He has been holding telephone talks with other
global leaders, including a call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday. A
call with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected Friday.
Suga, who was Abe’s chief cabinet secretary, is
largely expected to carry on Abe’s diplomatic and security policies.
