 |
| From front, South Korea's destroyer ROKS Sejong the Great, U.S. destroyer USS Barry and Japan's destroyer JS Atago participate in a joint missile defense drill in the East Sea, Feb. 22. Courtesy of South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff |
By Nam Hyun-woo
South Korea's resolution on compensating victims of Japan's wartime forced labor is raising hopes of a rosy outlook on trilateral security cooperation between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.
Experts say the diplomatic fray between South Korea and Japan has been the "weak link" in trilateral security cooperation and the resolution will play a pivotal role in improving Seoul-Tokyo relations. This, at the same time, is also expected to help South Korea send a signal to the world that it is siding with the United States, without ruffling China's feathers.
"The diplomatic friction between South Korea and Japan has been the weak link in the trilateral security cooperation scheme," Go Myong-hyun, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told The Korea Times.
"After Seoul-Tokyo relations turned sour, China and Russia began to conduct joint military exercises. This clearly shows the strategic meaning of the resolution that it is seeking to stabilize geopolitical issues in the East Sea by improving ties with Japan," Go added.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs unveiled a plan, Monday, to compensate 15 wartime victims through a public foundation which will be primarily funded by Korean companies, instead of responsible Japanese firms. In response, the Japanese government welcomed the settlement, expressing hopes to "restore healthy ties."
During a Cabinet meeting, Tuesday, President Yoon Suk Yeol said the resolution is an outcome of the government's efforts to find a measure "that serves the two countries' mutual benefits and future progress."
"Japan has transformed from a militaristic aggressor of the past into a partner that shares the same universal values with us and cooperate in global agendas including security, economy and science technology," Yoon said. "The future-oriented cooperation between South Korea and Japan will protect the freedom, peace and prosperity of not only the two countries but also the entire world."
As Yoon said, the resolution is aimed at helping Seoul and Tokyo to improve their relations and strengthen the trilateral security cooperation involving the U.S., in order to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats. At the same time, this signals that Seoul is taking a clear stance of leaning toward Washington in the U.S.-China rivalry.
In September last year, the Chinese Navy participated in the Russia-led Vostok-2022 multinational military drill in the East Sea, immediately after South Korea and the U.S. jointly conducted the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise.
In this regard, the improved relations between Seoul and Tokyo are in line with the interests of the U.S., which aims to use the trilateral bloc to contain assertions from China and Russia. Hours after Seoul announced the resolution, U.S. President Joe Biden released a statement and hailed it as "a groundbreaking new chapter" and a step in advancing "our shared vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific."
 |
| President Yoon Suk Yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose for photo during their trilateral summit in Madrid, Spain, June 29, 2022. Korea Times photo by Seo Jae-hoon |
From Yoon's perspective, the resolution could be a step in the right direction that allows South Korea to send a clear signal to the world that it is inclined in favor of Washington without infuriating China.
"In the diplomatic and political circle of the U.S. or Europe, there are many people who still think that South Korea is maintaining a balancing act between the U.S. and China as its national diplomatic strategy," Go said.
"The resolution has sent a signal to them that it isn't [doing that] by simply showing a conciliatory gesture to Japan without infuriating China. Although it faced a backlash from the domestic public, the resolution has brought a great benefit from an international perspective."
During a press conference on Monday (local time), China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said of Seoul's resolution that "Japan needs to shape a correct view of history among the younger generation" and "only by doing so can Japan truly earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the wider international community." However, she did not mention China's outlook on improved South Korea-Japan relations.
The trilateral security cooperation will likely gain greater momentum upon Yoon's envisaged visit to Japan and Washington.
Kyodo News and other Japanese media outlets have reported that Yoon could visit the neighboring country on March 16 and 17. Director of National Security Kim Sung-han is now in the U.S. to discuss the timeframe, status and agendas of Yoon's visit to the U.S., which is projected to be next month.
In May, Japan will host the Group of Seven Summit. South Korea is not a member nation of the organization, but Yoon is anticipated to receive an invitation as the leader of an observer country.
