Japan, S Korea divided over wartime history, Fukushima water release

For decades past, and probably decades to come the political toxicity will continue unabated.

Generation after generation.

A completely different approach is needed. Politicians have to take a step back.

It is pointless asking the current generation of Japan youth to apologize for the political train wreak, created by a policy of half a dozen of this, and six of the other.

Third party arbitration, and a commission would be a step forward.

How would both find consensus?

Another decade to decide that proposal.

All the apologizes in the world are not the answer.

@jeancolmarToday  05:25 pm JST

"No matter how you wish twisting the historical truths, you cannot dodge what have been crystal-clearly stipulated in 1965 treaty and agreement, in particular, article III-2 arbitration clause."

This treaty was rammed down the throats of the Korean people by the U.S. and (right-wing) Japan through dictator Park, a Korean who was a part of the Japanese colonial ruling class. The 1965 treaty was never voted for by the South Korean people and it was bitterly opposed.

Imagine if every backgrounds of each international treaties are unilaterally chewed and selfishly lectured and then justified to be flipped over, how the heck you could keep integrity to sustain the world order?

Article III-2 exists for your kind of people. Don't you get it?

In case you are ignorant enough, both countries had spent 14 years to reach to this treaty which was ratified in South Korean Diet. get it all in your head would you please?

"No matter how you wish twisting the historical truths, you cannot dodge what have been crystal-clearly stipulated in 1965 treaty and agreement, in particular, article III-2 arbitration clause."

This treaty was rammed down the throats of the Korean people by the U.S. and (right-wing) Japan through dictator Park, a Korean who was a part of the Japanese colonial ruling class. The 1965 treaty was never voted for by the South Korean people and it was bitterly opposed.

When Japan squarely addresses its war crimes throughout Asia in its education system, removes war criminals interred in yasukuni and bans revisionist uyoku groups in the same way Germany has it will be able to “live peacefully with all other countries they invaded.” Not before.

The current generation Japanese and Korean have nothing to do with WW2 so they don't need to point fingers. German can also live peacefully with all other countries they invaded.

Japan has apologised many times and there is an official record. Korean is just repeating this issue every year again. People are tired of it and want to move on.

I've been disappointed myself about S. Koreas government approach towards Japan.

At the same time the revolving door of Japanese PM in the past, constantly apologizing and quitting on Japan, willing to sign bad deals like Plaza Accord was not a good sign.

S. Korea is the one that benefits the most by working closer with Japan. Why?

-You are connected by land to communist North Korea and China.

-You have been attacked before and invaded by North Korea and China.

-Japan being restricted by Article 9, we are trying to change that. Can help more if relations are good and improve.

South Korea has more to win, more to gain by having good relations. That's why we see the Moon administration going back and forth. Trying to find a weakness again in Japan's strategy.

PLEASE release the water into the decision makers home.

Would you pray for the soul of someone who murders your mother? No I didn’t think so. So don’t be a hypocrite.

South Korea has a monument for the man who assassinated the first prime minister of Japan.

The fact is that Japan has never admitted any wrongdoing in Korea during the WWII.

That's just blatantly false. As long as South Korea gives into its hatred and keeps blaming Japan, there's no chance of improving ties.

@GdTokyo

Since then, the war has ended, S. Korea and Japan signed a peace treaty in which Japan paid reparations and Korea said that all issues were forever and finally settled,

Peace treaty? This is what the Japanese history textbooks taught you?

The fact is that Japan has never admitted any wrongdoing in Korea during the WWII. This means that Japan has never paid reparations. If they ever gave some money to the Korean government, then it should have been just for free or congratulation.

Left right, conservative or liberal, ROK politicians all have the same “break the glass” tool; slam the Japanese.

Now I will fully agree with the fact that the Japanese annexation of the Korean Peninsula was an act of Colonialism. It was brutal. There was forced prostitution. Japan in the past has sought to cover up or minimize its role. Aso continues to minimize it today.

Since then, the war has ended, S. Korea and Japan signed a peace treaty in which Japan paid reparations and Korea said that all issues were forever and finally settled, The fact that The ROK stiffed individuals is not Japan’s fault. Korea has become an economic powerhouse with Japanese technology. Japan is a significant signatory to Korean security because it serves as a logistical base for reinforcement of the Korean Peninsula. The emperor has specifically apologized on multiple occasions. The ROK and Japan negotiated a supplemental agreement that was in my opinion a bad deal for Koreans, but they signed the deal I guess contracts don’t matter when you are a subsequent administration How fortunate inform the Koreans that Trump couldn’t get more people to agree with that sentiment

And not for nothing, it was 76 years ago.

Make no mistake, when the Koreans bring this up, it’s for domestic political advantage.

Unlike Korea which every year releases the same stuff into the Sea of Japan from their nuclear power plants.

Ah no, the difference between the two is that Fukushima water has other radioactive materials still, not just tritium. It is why other countries such as Taiwan, Philippines, Russia, China, France and Canada raised concerns. It is also why the US still bans all Fukushima produce.

https://www.reuters.com/article/japan-disaster-nuclear-water/rpt-fukushima-nuclear-plant-owner-apologises-for-still-radioactive-water-idUSL4N1WR66Q

And the reason? Japan had to insist on using Japanese made ALPS treatment units, rather than importing world class units from the USA. So 2 of the 3 units failed to treat the water properly.

Koreans and the defenders of Koreans should really cut the craps right here and right now.

No matter how you wish twisting the historical truths, you cannot dodge what have been crystal-clearly stipulated in 1965 treaty and agreement, in particular, article III-2 arbitration clause.

Nobody is going to Yasukuni to "worship" war criminals. They go to pray for the souls of 2.4 million dead.

Would you pray for the soul of someone who murders your mother? No I didn’t think so. So don’t be a hypocrite.

Japan hasn't invaded Korea since the 1500s. The 1910 annexation came to be because there were pro and anti factions in Korea at the time. There was no war between Japan and Korea leading to the annexation.

If someone went into your house to steal things, that’s called a home invasion. Further, the Japanese killed people in the process including the queen because they were resisting. Pathetic logic.

Not just Germany, which one of Western powers have ever sincerely apologized and compensated to their ex colonies? Huh? Name one.

bokudaToday 03:38 pm JST

It's understandable that Koreans don't like radioactive water in their water.

I would hate any neighbour that does it.

.

Japan plans to release from the east coast of Japan into the pacific ocean.

Unlike Korea which every year releases the same stuff into the Sea of Japan from their nuclear power plants.

An amount equal to a quarter of what is stored at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

If Japan releases their amount over five or six years they would be polluting less than Korea is at this time.

.

Maybe everyone should avoid Korean fish.

.

As to the comfort women issue, Korea should release the money Japan has given for them (several times over the past 50 years) to the women.

Where is that money now ?

.

Japan hasn't invaded Korea since the 1500s. The 1910 annexation came to be because there were pro and anti factions in Korea at the time. There was no war between Japan and Korea leading to the annexation.

Koreans in the Japanese military "invaded" other Asian countries in WWII. They also made use of the Comfort Stations. Nobody is going to Yasukuni to "worship" war criminals. They go to pray for the souls of 2.4 million dead including over 21,000 Koreans.

Sorry if the truth hurts.

This is a Japanese way of apologizing?

Then what is a Korean way of apologizing?

@oldman_13

Contrary to those who still falsely accuse the Japanese government of not coming to terms with its past (and showing zero proof of this outside of a few boneheaded statements and acts by individual politicians), the government of Japan has given numerous official apologies to South Korea for its past atrocities. This includes TWO official apology and compensation given to the comfort women, both undermined by ignorant anti-Japan nationalists in South Korea.

Apologize and then make "Masakaki" Ritual Offering at Yasukuni Shrine?

https://www.nippon.com/en/news/yjj2021042100335/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasukuni_Shrine

https://thediplomat.com/2015/08/the-abe-statement-did-abe-apologize/

This is a Japanese way of apologizing?

Many Japanese are getting sick and tired of this difficult neighbor

But who invaded who? That's where the problem began.

Many Japanese are getting sick and tired of this difficult neighbor. Maybe social distancing should apply to nations too. Keep your distance: the less you have to do with Korea, the better.

@P. Smith maybe you should check how often Japan government has apologized and paid.

What happened is awful but there should a point in time it has to stop, be accepted and move on.

Germany is also moving on with the other countries.

Fukushima water should be shipped to America, only America has the technology to handle this type of radioactive water.

It's understandable that Koreans don't like radioactive water in their water.

I would hate any neighbour that does it.

According to a recent survey, this is how Koreans rank the countries they dislike.

1 North Korea

2 China

3 Japan

The president is being criticized for being very pro-China.

By the way, did you know that Koreans hate China more than Japan?

Polls have shown this.

Recently. A major Korean newspaper also wrote a column saying that they hate China more than Japan.

Japan is NOT allied with South Korea. South Korea is far closer allied to their master, Communist China.

What is has to do with China? Japan should pay attention to their own image instead making ridiculous accusations!

Japan lacking the most sincerely apology for their Imperail era wrongdoings! Germany regrets they started WW2,Japan regrets they lost WW2! Germany mourns the dead of other nations! Japan mourns the dead of her own nation! That was the big difference!

Japan is NOT allied with South Korea. South Korea is far closer allied to their master, Communist China.

@fighto!

This just isn't true. It would be more accurate to say that the only country with a 'master' in Asia is our nearest and dearest Japan.

Two tiresome nations not giving an inch. Neverending crap.

Seoul should take appropriate action over wartime labor compensation and "comfort women" issues

Basically, stop coming to us and shaking your begging pan while bringing up some past stuff. We paid what we needed, now move on!

Time to get over it and move on, KOREA.

Ask an average New Zealander to talk about some atrocities carried out by our country. I know you will get a lot of answer. Ask a Japanese person the same question and you will likely get nothing.

In NZ we learn about our history. It's not rammed down our throats but we're brought up to understand we have done terrible things in the past and we need to remember to move forward. To move forward you need to understand the specifics. This history is a part of our collective psyche. In my life I'm yet to meet a kiwi who downplays or denies our history.

Thats difference and the real crux of this South Korea/Japan conflict. The government here will issue an apology. The apologies are EMPTY and never enter the collective psyche of this country, other than that fact that there was an apology made.

Until the negative aspects of Japan enter the national psyche, nothing will change.

If I was genuinely trying to heal divisions and bring both sides together, I probably wouldn’t have a massive chasm between the two tables.

It's laughable at how South Korea sees itself and Japan's watchdog, and feels that Japan - who is allied with them 

Japan is NOT allied with South Korea. South Korea is far closer allied to their master, Communist China.

China loves this stuff.

This includes TWO official apology and compensation given to the comfort women, 

Yeah, but you conveniently leave out the fact that those politicians then go to the Yasukuni shrine to worship the criminals and murderers. Seems more like lip service, don’t you? If you were really apologetic, you should condemn those criminals, not worship them.

My question is why don't we use the filter developed by Kindai University to remove the radioactive tritium.

https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180828/p2a/00m/0na/013000c

The Japanese government is trying desperately to hide the truth that everyone knows about Japan's wartime atrocities.

This is not even news.

Both countries are as bad as each other. Worse than children in the playground.

Trying to deal with South Korea is trying to deal with a spoiled child who throws a temper tantrum when things don't go their way.

Contrary to those who still falsely accuse the Japanese government of not coming to terms with its past (and showing zero proof of this outside of a few boneheaded statements and acts by individual politicians), the government of Japan has given numerous official apologies to South Korea for its past atrocities. This includes TWO official apology and compensation given to the comfort women, both undermined by ignorant anti-Japan nationalists in South Korea.

As for the Fukushima water issue, it's a total non-issue as even South Korean nuclear experts themselves deemed it an absolute non-issue even if the entire lot were somehow released into the ocean. But, who cares about the facts when it comes to South Korea and Japan, it's always about style over substance, petty emotion over mature decision making.

Boycott Japan again? It's all yours Samit.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2021/04/27/national/south-korea-fukushima-water/

South Korea is more concerned about radioactive water that was already treated than it is about its nuclear missiles.

Back when Trump talked to Kim Jong Un for the first time, South Korea cancelled its regular drill with the U.S. along the border, yet it still did its drill on the Liancourt Rocks “in case of an invasion from Japan.”

A survey found that almost half of South Koreans would side with North Korea in a war against Japan, while 40% said "I don't know".

Another survey found that South Koreans view Abe more negatively than Kim Jong Un, a dictator who imprisons entire families, gives death sentences to his own officers, and executes people in public.

South Korea needs to stop obsessing over the past and start focusing on current threats.

Japan, S Korea divided over wartime history, Fukushima water release

It's no hard to understand why South Korea against Fukushima water release, Japan will bring countries who reject their Fukushima agriculture and fisheries product to WTO if that countries refuse to accept.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-southkorea-wto/south-korea-wto-appeal-succeeds-in-japanese-fukushima-food-dispute-idUSKCN1RN24X

South Korea has no intention of improving ties with Japan. It dissolved the comfort women foundation formed by Japan and lied about consulting the U.S. before threatening to scrap GSOMIA, and an activist leader was arrested for embezzling money meant for the comfort women.

South Korea's only priority is victimizing itself and indoctrinating its people to hate. It's the only country where children draw pictures of Japan being nuked and people will set themselves on fire at protests, break into the Japanese embassy, refuse to fuel Japanese vehicles, and put stickers in classrooms saying “This device was made by a war criminal”. I grew up with my own parents constantly reminding me what Japan did over seventy years ago.

Instead of constantly blaming Japan, Korea needs to look at deep look at itself. The hypocrisy makes me ashamed to be Korean.