The issue of the lawsuits involving South Korean former wartime requisitioned workers from the Korean Peninsula is still lingering, and a critical situation is developing in which this drawn-out matter will deal a fatal blow to Japan-South Korea relations. The administration of South Korean President Moon Jae-in needs to present measures to settle the issue as soon as possible.
Two years have passed since South Korea's Supreme Court handed down rulings ordering Japanese companies to pay compensation to former requisitioned workers and others, but the South Korean government continues to leave the matter untouched.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga met with South Korea's National Intelligence Service Director Park Jie-won during his visit to Japan, calling on him to take steps to resolve the issue. Park is said to have proposed drafting and announcing a new declaration following up on the 1998 Japan-South Korea Joint Declaration.
The Moon administration apparently wanted to show that it was willing to improve relations with Japan, taking advantage of the inauguration of the Suga administration.
However, public opinion in Japan toward South Korea has hardened as the South Korean government has persisted in rehashing the issue of so-called comfort women and other matters, and fueled anti-Japanese sentiment.
The 1998 joint declaration was groundbreaking in that it aimed to put an end to historical issues and emphasized a future-oriented bilateral relationship. Under the current circumstances, in which there is no prospect for a solution to the issue of former requisitioned workers and the Japanese side is increasingly distrustful of South Korea, discussing a new declaration would be putting the cart before the horse.
Following the Supreme Court rulings, procedures are under way in South Korea to sell assets held by the Japanese companies. If the assets are converted into cash, the Japanese government intends to implement strong countermeasures, claiming that this violates the 1965 Agreement on the Settlement of Problems concerning Property and Claims and on Economic Cooperation between the two countries, which stipulates that the matter of claims has been resolved.
As president, Moon has a responsibility to abide by this international agreement. He should face up to the reality that his failure to take corrective measures against the unjust rulings, on the pretext of "the separation of powers," has worsened the situation.
At an earlier meeting of director-general-level officials of the two countries, the South Korean side reportedly said that the Japanese government and the defendant companies need to show a sincere attitude regarding the issue of former requisitioned workers. This assertion is totally unacceptable for the Japanese side.
The issue was settled in the 1965 agreement, so if compensation is to be provided to former requisitioned workers, it is reasonable for the South Korean government to pay them in the same manner as past administrations have. Avoiding the cashing of assets would be a step toward breaking the deadlock.
Japan and South Korea have a number of issues that they need to work together to address, including measures against the novel coronavirus. Cooperation is also being called for regarding sanctions against North Korea and its defense systems.
South Korea is the host country of an upcoming trilateral summit meeting among Japan, China and South Korea, and hopes to hold it within this year. The Moon administration should move forward with the issue of former requisitioned workers and create an environment in which Prime Minister Suga will be able to visit South Korea.
In the United States, a new administration led by Joe Biden is likely to be launched. To maintain regional stability, Japan and South Korea need to cooperate to deepen their relations with the United States.
-- The original Japanese article appeared in The Yomiuri Shimbun on Nov. 12, 2020.
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