South Korea Irritated over U.S.-Japan Relations

Once again South Korea is in an uproar over the issue of Japan’s right to collective self-defense. Ever since the establishment of the Shinzo Abe administration, Japan has been criticized by South Korea for its “revival of militarism." Lately, the self-defense issue has caused anti-Japanese sentiment to increase in the form of the anti-Abe campaign.

However, this month’s media coverage, such as the article, “The U.S. and Japan’s Close Relationship: A Trial for Korean Diplomacy,” from Oct. 5 on the front page of JoongAng Ilbo, make South Korea’s irritation over U.S. support for Japan even more obvious than before.

After the recent visit to Japan from U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Australia and the United Kingdom also clarified their support for Japan. This has been reported with some bitterness by South Korean media sources.

The South Korean government approaches the Japanese self-defense issue from a cautious standpoint, showing no support and providing no clear reason for opposition. When this topic suddenly came up at a National Assembly meeting and the government’s position was questioned, the South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Byonse responded evasively by making statements such as, “We would like to observe the situation a little longer,” and “Remarks would not be appropriate at the present time.”

Nevertheless, Foreign Minister Yoon recently said, “We should move forward transparently in a direction that will resolve the concerns of our neighboring countries,” and “The problems of the past are not relevant.” So, it seems South Korea is not necessarily in opposition.

In the case of a military emergency on the Korean Peninsula in which the U.S. armed forces that are dispatched there under the U.S.-South Korea alliance were attacked by an enemy, the Japanese Self-Defense Force would be able to cooperate with the U.S. armed forces in a counterattack against this enemy if Japan had the right to collective self-defense.

The U.S. also has an alliance with Japan, and for this reason, it is expected that Japan will fulfill its role as an ally and cooperate with and assist the U.S. when necessary. However, because South Korea was once controlled by Japan, there is a voice of caution and concern in South Korea saying, “Japan will attack again!”

Although the Japanese Self-Defense Force has no intentions of disregarding South Korea’s wishes by invading Korean soil, South Koreans feel that Japan’s past actions are reason enough to make judgments about Japan now. The South Korean media, which always calls for patriotism from South Korean citizens and cautions against Japanese interests, is constantly voicing its dissatisfaction, saying, “What is the government thinking?”

There was even a report that openly criticized the U.S. and its support for Japan, claiming that “U.S. diplomacy with respect to Japan is regressing.” This comment suggests that if the U.S. continues to support Japan as it did in the case of the Taft-Katsura Agreement of 1905 — when the U.S. recognized Japan’s control of South Korea — anti-Japanese sentiments could spark anti-American sentiments among South Koreans.

The reason why the South Korean government is refraining from making any criticisms of Japan at this time is that it is aware that, under the U.S.-South Korean alliance, support from the U.S. armed forces in the case of an emergency will unavoidably come through Japan. The reality is that it is impossible for the U.S.-Korean alliance to be effective without Japan’s cooperation because U.S. military forces are stationed in Japan.

South Korean’s President Park Geun-hye has publicly criticized Japan and Shinzo Abe many times before, and stated that “The historical perspective of aggressor and victim cannot be changed, even though a thousand years pass by.” The president is holding her tongue on this issue. As a leader who stresses the importance of security and is publicly committed to maintaining and strengthening the U.S.-South Korea alliance, President Park is hesitant to cut ties with Japan so quickly.

In the backdrop of activity in recent meetings related to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), there have been reports in the media such as “President Park Maintains Equidistant Diplomacy Between the U.S. and China” from Oct. 12 on the front page of JoongAng Ilbo. At this time it is necessary for President Park to make South Korea’s diplomatic standing clear.