日本冀與韓國改善關係

日本冀與韓國改善關係
Japan Hopes to Improve Relations with Seoul

As Lee Myung Bak was sworn in as president of South Korea on February 25, expectations heightened in Japan for improved political relations with the country after years of straining. Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, who had talks with President Lee after his inauguration in Seoul, said they agreed to work to build “a new era of Japan-South Korea relations.”

Fukuda, who was the first foreign leader to meet with Lee, agreed with him to resume “shuttle diplomacy” in which the two leaders will visit each other’s country at least once a year, and to reopen negotiations for an economic partnership agreement, which have been suspended for more than three years. Fukuda also invited Lee to an outreach session of the G-8 summit to be held in Hokkaido in July.

They are understood to have agreed to put issues of past history behind and work to revive viable political relations which have cooled off over the years, in a bid to build future-oriented cooperative relations. The shuttle diplomacy has been suspended since June 2005 over then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s Yasukuni Shrine visits and the so-called history issues. Lee is expected to visit Japan in April, with the Japanese prime minister visiting South Korea after the autumn.

An important practical issue that will test the two governments’ resolve for stronger bilateral ties is how they will go on in negotiations for a free trade agreement (officially called an economic partnership agreement). The negotiations started in December 2003 but got stranded in November 2004 as South Korea balked at Japan’s response to its demand for liberalization of 90% of Japan’s agricultural sector. Due partly to the unfavorable political environment as well, the negotiations have been left on hold since.

For Lee, who is the first South Korean president with a business background, a matter of foremost importance is reviving his country’s flagging economy. He has pledged an annual economic growth rate of 7% during his tenure and is presumably counting on benefits of closer economic ties with Japan, mutually the third largest trading partner, through a free trade agreement. For Japan, such an arrangement with South Korea is considered important as it is lagging behind the regional trend of concluding free trade agreements. The way to undertake the negotiations is expected to be worked out when Lee visits Japan in April. Preliminary talks are expected prior to full negotiations.

Regarding the North Korean issue, the Japanese prime minister proposed to strengthen cooperation between Japan and South Korea as well as three-way cooperation between Japan, the United States and South Korea toward the denuclearization of North Korea. He also explained Japan’s policy for an early normalization of diplomatic relations with Pyongyang through comprehensive settlement of the issues of North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens, denuclearization and missiles. Lee pledged such cooperation, saying he understood Japan’s position.

Japanese Newspapers Express Expectations of New Era in Bilateral Relations (all in February 26 editorials)
The Asahi Shimbun (Title: Frequent Fukuda-Lee talks would build up trust)
Given Lee’s track record as a competent chief of a large company and a municipal government, it is not surprising that South Koreans are pinning their hopes on his ability to get things done. With expectations for his leadership so high, however, he could easily disappoint the public if he fails to produce tangible results within a short period of time. He chose Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda for his first meeting with a foreign leader on Monday. That was probably a gesture to show he places great importance on South Korea’s relations with Japan. It is good news that the two leaders confirmed the revival of leaders’ mutual visits called “shuttle diplomacy,” which had been suspended amid disputes over history issues.

The Sankei Shimbun (Title: New South Korean president: Mean to get free from ‘past’)
In the past, South Korea has kept criticizing Japan, holding on to their image of being victims. But President Lee in his inaugural address said of his country’s future, “Now, let’s face our future with confidence”, and urged the nation to extricate itself from the “fetters of the past.” Many South Koreans know well, through increasing coming and going with Japan, that Japan today is not what it was in the past. Let’s work on both sides to build a new relationship in frank recognition of this reality. We hope a new South Korea will see the actual and future Japan, not the past, and set firm eyes on freedom, democracy and human rights issues in North Korea under international common sense.

The Nikkei (Title: President Lee Myung Bak shoulders North Korea and EPA)
We give credit to the new president for basically agreeing with Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda to work to reopen the negotiations for an economic partnership agreement (EPA), which have been suspended for nearly three years. We expect President Lee to restructure his country’s relationship with Japan and the United States and compel North Korea to give up its nuclear arms program in its entirety. We call on Japan and South Korea to push EPA negotiations from a broad perspective.

The Mainichi Shimbun (Title: Let’s build a future-oriented ‘new era’)
We give credit to President Lee for taking the posture of not again demanding that the Japanese apologize and reflect on history issues “for the sake of mature South Korea-Japan relations.” But it is also necessary for Japan to pay attention to the fact that Lee observed that “Japan’s apology was formalistic.” The first issue on which the two leaders will be tested their response to North Korea.

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Title: Lee offers good chance for rebuilding ties)
Japan and South Korea should try to revive their stagnant bilateral relationship, taking advantage of the inauguration of Lee, who calls for engaging in productive diplomacy. The goal of having a ‘future-oriented’ relationship between the two nations has repeatedly hit snags. Learning a lesson from this, Japan and South Korea must mutually make constant efforts to prevent differences over their shared history and territorial disputes from hampering the sound development of bilateral relations.

Source: Foreign Press Center / Japan FTCJ. No. 0810