Recent political relations between Japan and the two Koreas

Recent political relations between

Japan and the two Koreas

Aleksandra Babović

MA student at Institute of Political Studies in Paris and IIPE member

Introduction

Normalization: Japan South Korea (ROK) - Treaty on Basic Relations in

1965 motivated by economic aid (500$) Japan North Korea (DPRK) trade relations initiated in 1961

while unofficial political relations established in 70s Nixon-Sato Communiqué in 1969 - “Korean clause” : “the security

of the Republic of Korea is essential to Japan’s own security” 80s – favorable to the normalization talks between Japan – DPRK,

but from 90s till today they never resumed. Common point – unsolved historical issues from Japanese

occupation of Korean Peninsula (1910-1945) mutual resentment

Thesis:

The current state of Japan and two Koreas recent political relations (from the end of the Cold war): “dualistic” with ROK and worsening with DPRK.

The near future: no likely to ameliorate - peoples’ mentalities and lack of pragmatic diplomacy

Prospective: Japan’s normalization process with DPRK and deepening of political ties with ROK still remain a long run goas for its diplomacy.

Japan – DPRK relations: Sad State of Play and

Sad Prospects

A. Normalization process: unreachable goal of two diplomacies

- September 1990 - Three-Party Declaration – encouraged apology and compensation from Japan

- Shift in Japanese policy toward DPRK (ROK and US pressure) – inspection of nuclear facilities by IAEA as pre-condition – normalization talks postponed until the new Millennium

- 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis and launching of a Taepodong

missile in 1998 – friction between US-ROK-Japan - September 2001 Pyongyang Declaration – violation- Adoption of a hard-line policy toward DPRK - abduction issue as a

top priority on government’s agenda

B. Resolving the thorny “abduction issue”

- Abductees = 13 Japanese nationals, mostly young people, who were abducted to North Korea (1977 to 1982) in order to participate in training of espionage agents

- Kim Jong Il’s 2002 confirmation - Diplomatic efforts – 5 abductees returned in Japan BUT

unconfident information on others + pressure groups reason why Japan did not redraw from this question

C. Japan’s role in DPRK denuclearization within

the Six-Party Talks

- Six-Party Talks- the international forum aiming at denuclearization of DPRK initiated in 2003

- The "stop and go” negotiations - erratic posture of DPRK and divergent approaches of parties involved

- Six-Party Talks - a second place for Japan for making potential breakthroughs on the sensitive abduction issue by pairing it up with

denuclearization process

D. North Korea as a security threat to Japan

Nuclear tests from 1998 - a “wake-up call” for Japan

The US- Japan regional missile defense system Frequent smuggling of North Korean spy ships – introduction of

unilateral sanction in 2006 by Japan against DPRK (ships, goods, persons, and surveillance of money transactions)

Explanation of the hard-line approach

D. North Korea as a security threat to Japan

Nuclear tests from 1998 - a “wake-up call” for Japan

The US- Japan regional missile defense system Frequent smuggling of North Korean spy ships – introduction of

unilateral sanction in 2006 by Japan against DPRK (ships, goods, persons, and surveillance of money transactions)

Explanation of the hard-line approach

E. April 2009 ballistic launch: new developments

and their impact on the future

2009 Ballistic Launch or “communication satellite launch”, DPRK expelled IAEA inspectors, threats to resume its nuclear program

September 2009 announcement : “ we entered the final phase of weaponizing plutonium and we are prepared for both, dialogue and sanctions”

A real military threat or a tactical move? Possible shift on the agenda – abduction issue is to be topped by

denuclearization issue Newly elected Yukio Hatoyama – continuation of a hard-line policy

2. Japan- South Korea relations

A. The future-oriented and pragmatic political relations between Japan and ROK remain a goal difficult to achieve in the near future

Future oriented statements strained by periodical flare-up of historical issues

1998 Joint Statement of a New ROK-Japan Partnership toward the

Twenty-First Century and Roh Moo Hyun – Premier Koizumi meeting

The historical international politics or historical disputes involve the battle for the power or to be more precise, it becomes “an arena

when power dominates”. Different perception of political and strategic environment of three

key regional players impediment for building more strategic alliance between Japan and ROK

B. Periodical flare-ups of historical and territorial issues as a major impediment for full reconciliation of Japan-ROK ties

The comfort women – 1992 official documents revealed the involvement of Japanese Imperial Army

1993 Kono Statement (Government admitted its moral responsibility for comfort women, apologized for their mental and physical sufferings, promised it would never

repeat the same mistake and teach about it to future generations ) BUT never admitted legal responsibility

Abe Shinzo’s 2007 denial of comfort women, controversy with textbooks – negative impact on Korean public opinion

The problem of Asian/Women’s Fund created in 1995 The international dimension – Canada, GB, the US, the UN and the

EU Parliament passed resolutions making pressure over Japan

B. Periodical flare-ups of historical and territorial issues as a major impediment for full reconciliation of Japan-ROK ties

The issue of Takeshima or Dokdo – in 1905 put under Japanese authority

1952 – Singhman Ree Line and two years later, Korean military presence on the islands

The territorial dispute is also result of the US cold war policy 1954 and 1962 – attempt of Japan for peaceful resolving of issue

via ICJ (International Court of Justice) Dokdo is like a volcano, ready to erupt every time a minor incident

happens

C. Could Japan and ROK be a good neighbors

despite of their history burden?

Fertile ground for establishing a good political neighbor policy Significant level of cultural and economic exchanges between ROK

and Japan (J-Wave and K-Wave) Japan is Rok’s second largest trade partner, while the latter is the

third one to Japan (2007) Frequent diplomatic visits on both sides BUT “…the demons of history continue and will continue to haunt

Japan-Korea relations”

Thank you for your attention!

どうもありがとうございます