The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Wed, August 10, 2022 | 02:06
Editorial
Suga's reckless demand
Posted : 2020-10-14 17:36
Updated : 2020-10-14 19:38
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
Japan should not use trilateral summit as leverage

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has reportedly said that he will not attend a trilateral summit among South Korea, China and Japan unless Seoul changes its stance over the issue of compensation for the surviving South Korean victims of forced wartime labor. According to Kyodo News, Tokyo notified Seoul late last month that Suga would not visit Korea for the summit slated for late this year unless it takes "proper" measures to resolve the matter.

Suga revealed his stance after he told Japanese media that he would like to ask Seoul to take steps to settle the issue following his telephone conversation with President Moon Jae-in, Sept. 24. The phone call was the first of its kind since he took office. We believe it is improper for Suga to link the issue to the three-way summit.

This has triggered public anger in Korea after Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi called on the German government to remove a statue of a girl symbolizing sex slaves for frontline Japanese troops during World War II. Giving in to Japanese pressure, the central Mitte District in Berlin ordered a civic group with South Korean ties to remove the "Statue of Peace" by Oct. 14, after it was installed in late September. The district office, however, put the removal on hold temporarily to find a solution.

Against this backdrop, Japan's move is very disappointing as it betrays expectations for better relations between Seoul and Tokyo, under Suga's new leadership.

It is inappropriate for him to ask the Korean government to nullify the Supreme Court's ruling ordering Japanese firms to pay compensation to surviving South Korean victims of forced labor during the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea. It is a reckless demand to coerce Seoul to break the principle of the separation of the three branches of government: the executive, the legislative and the judiciary. We cast doubt on Suga's ulterior motives in coming up with such a demand that Seoul cannot accept at all. Japan deserves criticism for attempting to use the summit as leverage.

The trilateral summit between the neighboring nations, which began in 2008, has played a role of promoting mutual cooperation and solving pending issues. Suga should immediately drop his threat not to attend the meeting. Otherwise, he is only showing that he has no intention of compromising over the thorny issue and having better ties with South Korea. He needs to face up to Japan's shameful history squarely, and at least acknowledge its wartime atrocities.

Seoul and Tokyo are sharply divided over the issue of wartime forced labor. Moon earlier told Suga that the two nations should explore ways for an optimum solution. Instead of inheriting the hardline policies of his predecessor Shinzo Abe, Suga should take a future-oriented attitude. If he really wants to mend soured ties with Seoul, Suga should attend the trilateral summit to solve the problem through dialogue.


 
LG
  • Capital region to see additional 300 millimeters of rain until Friday
  • [PHOTOS] Damage after torrential rains
  • Visa regulation pits Jeju islanders against justice ministry
  • Canadian YouTuber takes viewers on brewing adventures in Korea
  • Yoon details whereabouts during record downpour to curb conspiracy theory
  • Former Starbucks Korea CEO leads growth of Shinsegae brand JAJU
  • Heavy downpour disrupts e-commerce deliveries
  • North Korea releases water from border dam after downpours
  • Ex-President Lee Myung-bak unlikely to be released
  • Coupang aims to strengthen profitability through financial biz
  • Interactive News
  • With tough love,
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • 'Santa dogs' help rebuild burnt forests in Andong
  • A tale of natural wine
    • Netflix's 'Narco-Saints' to be released Sept. 9 Netflix's 'Narco-Saints' to be released Sept. 9
    • [INTERVIEW] Leandro Erlich's questioning of our perception of reality carries new meaning in pandemic [INTERVIEW] Leandro Erlich's questioning of our perception of reality carries new meaning in pandemic
    • BLACKPINK to start world tour in October BLACKPINK to start world tour in October
    • [INTERVIEW] Im Si-wan found own narrative for villain role in 'Emergency Declaration' [INTERVIEW] Im Si-wan found own narrative for villain role in 'Emergency Declaration'
    • 'Free Chol Soo Lee': How young Korean immigrant's wrongful conviction led to pan-Asian American resistance movement 'Free Chol Soo Lee': How young Korean immigrant's wrongful conviction led to pan-Asian American resistance movement
    DARKROOM
    • Ice is melting, land is burning

      Ice is melting, land is burning

    • Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

      Tottenham 6-3 Team K League

    • Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

      Afghanistan earthquake killed more than 1,000

    • Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

      Divided America reacts to overturn of Roe vs. Wade

    • Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

      Namaste: Yogis to celebrate International Yoga Day

    The Korea Times
    CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
    Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
    Tel : 02-724-2114
    Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
    Date of registration : 2020.02.05
    Masthead : The Korea Times
    Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
    • About Us
    • Introduction
    • History
    • Location
    • Media Kit
    • Contact Us
    • Products & Service
    • Subscribe
    • E-paper
    • Mobile Service
    • RSS Service
    • Content Sales
    • Policy
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
    • 고충처리인
    • Youth Protection Policy
    • Code of Ethics
    • Copyright Policy
    • Family Site
    • Hankook Ilbo
    • Dongwha Group