Japan-US-Korea Summit Meeting: Hasten Dialogue between the Two Countries

With U.S. President Obama seated between as “mediator,” Japan and South Korea’s summit meeting was finally achieved.

Although Japan and South Korea’s sensitive issues — historical perceptions and so on — were not mentioned, the leaders cannot improve relations with dialogue remaining at a standstill. I would like for this conference, in which the leaders agreed on North Korea policy, to be a breakthrough in bilateral dialogue and normalization of Japan-Korea relations.

Two years ago, Japan-Korea relations suddenly took a turn for the worse when former President Lee visited Takeshima. Prime Minister Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine at the end of last year, which South Korea strongly objected to. The glimmer of hope for improved relations is completely invisible.

Mr. Obama’s tour of Japan and South Korea next month is drawing near, so he has worked to ease the conflict of the two countries for the purpose of achieving the Japan-U.S.-Korea talks. That historical perceptions were not up for discussion was a major element of achieving the summit.

Prime Minister Abe stated after the discussion, “I would like to make this the first step toward developing a future-oriented Japan-Korea relationship.” It is a great loss to each country’s people that the Japan-Korea relationship, with its deep historical and economic ties, remains cold. For the sake of the younger generation, I want Prime Minister Abe to make the “future orientation” he spoke of his goal.

However, given that the summit was achieved because the historical disputes were removed from the agenda, accomplishing that goal will be easier said than done.

Before the meeting, Prime Minister Abe asserted that Chief Cabinet Secretary Kono’s statement on the comfort women issue would not be reviewed, which led to South Korea’s compromise. Nevertheless, an aide of the prime minister remarked afterward that a “new discourse” should be considered after reviewing the Kono discourse.

There are various opinions in Japan and South Korea about historical perceptions. Trust in each other is fundamental to handling this calmly. If it is the case that different views are coming from the prime minister’s inner circle after his statement, then a relationship of deep mutual trust cannot be built.

The Japan-U.S.-Korea summit concluded as expected, confirming the strengthening of the countries’ cooperation on North Korea policy. According to the talks, North Korea fired an intermediate-range ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan, but it is of great significance that Japan, the U.S. and South Korea demonstrated a close relationship in terms of security.

The three countries also discussed opening a six-party meeting to discuss North Korea’s nuclear program. China’s role is important to persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear program. I would like Japan to take the initiative to strengthen its pressure on China.

China continues to criticize Japan over historical perceptions in the same way as South Korea. There are many pending issues, like North Korea policy, on which Japan, China and South Korea must move closely together. Japan and Korea, as well as Japan and China, must seek improved bilateral relations, beginning with their common issues.