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Former Mitsubishi workers seek assets sale for forced colonial-era labor

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By HYUNG-JIN KIM

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This nonsense never ends. Japan wants a third party negotiator but SK conveniently refuses. Childish.

10 ( +22 / -12 )

In the current atmosphere between the two countries it's hard to see the court saying no to the sale of the assets.

I hope it doesnt go that far, that any assets are actually sold, as the repercussions would be severe.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

Its time for Japan and SK to go to an arbitrator before it’s too late. That’ll have to the US. Here’s a chance for Trump to make a contribution to peace.

-10 ( +3 / -13 )

If Korea’s coerced workers were not paid by certain occupying Japanese companies then it is only fair that they should be.

The article clearly states that Mitsubishi refused to negotiate with the former coerced workers.

It is logical that a court action and ruling be sought and it has!

Tough for Mitsubishi.

-14 ( +10 / -24 )

Another day, more anti-Japan threats made by South Korea. Moon had better order that this nonsense is stopped right away.

> "If Japanese companies are actually harmed, we will be forced to take necessary measures," 

Well said, Kono-Sensei. These measures should involve seizing Korean company and individuals assets in Japan, and drastically cutting the number of SK tourists that enter Japan.

8 ( +19 / -11 )

These measures should involve seizing Korean company and individuals assets in Japan, and drastically cutting the number of SK tourists that enter Japan.

@Ganbare - Seizing SK company and invidual assets in Japan? On what legal basis though? Are you suggesting Japan take a leaf from the 1940s Germany?

And restrict the number of SK tourists who support tourism industries in Japan? facepalm

-9 ( +9 / -18 )

What I find confounding is why these individuals waited all of these years to file claims against the Japanese companies in Korean courts.

I mean, they had decades upon decades to do so. And yet they wait until their twilight years to file these claims?!

Makes me question their reasons for waiting and their reasons for belatedly seeking compensation.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

Japan's decision to curb high tech raw materials to SK was under pretenses of 'national security concerns' but we all know it was retaliation over the recent SK court decision over forced wartime labour in WW2.

How long before SK designate Japan a no-go zone, and ban its citizens from travelling to Japan under pretenses of health concerns over radiation exposure? Or ban any sort of food imports over health risks? With the Olympics a year away, the repercussions would be catastrophic.

There are lots of actions that can be considered legal under false pretenses, that amount to a trade war, while Japan clearly thinks it has the upper hand, it might find itself on the receiving end before long. The pro-Japan posters pumping their fists on the sidelines urging Japan on do not realise both sides stand to lose over this.

There are already talks over SK finding alternatives to Japan when it comes to high tech raw materials, which you will not see reported on JT, and are downvoted when posters link reputable Japanese sources. Of course there will be short term pain for SK corporations, but if the Japanese find themselves having lost a major client in time? Then what for Japan?

-16 ( +6 / -22 )

What I find confounding is why these individuals waited all of these years to file claims against the Japanese companies in Korean courts.

I mean, they had decades upon decades to do so. And yet they wait until their twilight years to file these claims?!

Makes me question their reasons for waiting and their reasons for belatedly seeking compensation.

@zones2surf - Ah the good old 'why do victims (of sexual assault, abuse, of anything) wait so long to come forward?'

Seems suss right?

Yep, victim blaming is the way to go.

-20 ( +3 / -23 )

Gambare Japan wrote:

Well said, Kono-Sensei. These measures should involve seizing Korean company and individuals assets in Japan,

Seriously? you suggest to persecute people of Korean ethnicity in Japan because of their government dispute with Japan?

That sounds pretty scary.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

@zones2surf: the victims have been filing claims since at least the 50’s. That’s why Japan paid a lot of compensation money to S Korea in the 60’s. The problem is that the authoritarian government in S Korea at the time never gave any of the Japanese money to the victims and instead pocketed a lot of it and used the rest for infrastructure investment. If anything the S Korean government should be paying these people because they almost 100% responsible at this point.

20 ( +23 / -3 )

What I find confounding is why these individuals waited all of these years to file claims against the Japanese companies in Korean courts.

All former presidents except Moon accepted 1965 treaty settled completely and irreversibly, so they just followed it.

13 ( +19 / -6 )

This would be bite following the bark as far politics and PR goes.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

It seems that there needs to be full engagement on all issues related to the 1910-45 occupation of Korea by Japan. I hope a diplomatic process begins and this sabre-rattling from both sides can desist.

I'm dismayed to read that these two very important allies are questioning if the other is "trustworthy" and I'm certain there are forces in both governments that are eager to destabilize the region for political gain.

-12 ( +4 / -16 )

The Japanese government is not Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi is not the Japanese government. Mitsubishi has to pay its workers, and the government cannot declare that it doesn't have to.

The government of South Korea is not the former Korean employees or slaves of Mitsubishi. Money cannot be handed to the South Korean government and consider that payment to the employees or slaves of Mitsubishi.

If anything the S Korean government should be paying these people because they almost 100% responsible at this point.

Because of what I wrote above, NO. If the governments of Japan and South Korea made a deal, its nothing to do with Mitsubishi and the Korean workers and slaves, even if those governments wanted it to be, it still isn't. The victims are welcome to sue whomever they like for compensation until they actually get it at this point, whether Mitsubishi or actually owing them or the governments of Japan and South Korea for getting in the way of them getting their compensation.

I still cannot understand why everyone does not understand this except to say most people are sheep who think governments can do whatever they want.

-10 ( +7 / -17 )

All former presidents except Moon accepted 1965 treaty settled completely and irreversibly, so they just followed it.

Yes. North's puppy Moon's mission is to castrate all the treaties and agreements which completely and finally and irreversibly settled all the issues to step backward to the same line with North against Japan to start all over again to milk Japan as unified Korea

9 ( +15 / -6 )

The judiciary time bomb was just exploded. The bomb was meticulously designed and installed by the Japanese officials in 1965: "paying money for damage while not admitting any damage".

-8 ( +8 / -16 )

S. Korea needs to finally pay this people after receiving the funds to cover such claims in 1965 from Japan.

Do the right thing Moon, S. Koreas relation with Japan is at risk. Your economy is at risk, your security if another war with North happens is at risk. How much help does S. Korea expect base on current relations. I would offer them very little if this is their attitude and behavior towards Japan.

12 ( +18 / -6 )

I"f Korea’s coerced workers were not paid by certain occupying Japanese companies then it is only fair that they should be.

The article clearly states that Mitsubishi refused to negotiate with the former coerced workers.

It is logical that a court action and ruling be sought and it has!

Tough for Mitsubishi."

People need to realize that all those Japanese companies were requisitioned by the Japanese Army/government, therefore the Koreans were working for Japan not Mitsubitshi.

Japan considered all the victims compensated so did the S.Korean government when they signed the Treaty in 1965 and received the funds.

13 ( +18 / -5 )

From the above article: "Japan insists its decision on export controls was not in retaliation for a ruling that its companies still owe compensation for past forced labor."

And that is a lie. A big lie and a transparent lie.

Note that anti-South Korean posters barely touch (if at all) on the central issue, the necessity for export control, going on instead on off the point tangents that deal with South Korea's supposed short comings.

What are the so-called export controls really for? Why cannot matters be resolved without them? Why did Japan impose them without warning? All we are getting from the Abe government is static snow.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

And restrict the number of SK tourists who support tourism industries in Japan? facepalm

@ Heckleberry. Why not? There are millions and millions of tourists around the world, from places that dont hate Japan , desperate to come and experience Japan. Tourist numbers are at record levels, year by year. Tourism industry in Japan wont suffer at all if number of SK tourists permitted to enter is cut by half.

All options are on the table for the Abe Cabinet.

11 ( +16 / -5 )

I feel so bad for the Koreans.

I know they're supporting their own nation first, like any citizen would do. But they don't realize that their own government is lying to them.

Japan won't be the one suffering from sanctions, because even though most outside countries outside of Asia (and some in) stay neutral on this issue. We're all aware that Japan has tried to make amends but Seoul just never accepts it and wants more.

Seoul put itself in this spot and is stubbornly lying to its nation and continuing to further strain its ties with Japan. It's sad to see that the people elected to be in charge is setting their own citizen on this path for doom.

I don't know too much about South Korea - Japan relations on this front, but I know that in Europe, where I live now. For every 1 South Korean product that I see, I see 8 Japanese ones.

I just can't understand why they're doing this to themselves. Sure Japan isn't perfect and both nations have morons in their governments. But punishing companies, that are run by people whom were, at best, teenagers during WW2, how is that even remotely justified?

I saw a quote a while ago that makes a lot of sense now; "We live in the best timeline of current human society, but in the big picture, we've never been more barbaric or stupid. We are no better than the Primates of the African jungle in the grand scheme of human civilization".

10 ( +15 / -5 )

The Japanese government is not Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi is not the Japanese government. Mitsubishi has to pay its workers, and the government cannot declare that it doesn't have to.

If Japan and S Korea governments did not agree on the 1965 treaty, then Mitsubishi would have to pay those workers. Both governments accepted the treaty with agreement settled completely and irreversibly and all former presidents admitted it, so no claims of hard labor came for many decades before Moon.

13 ( +15 / -2 )

@Hachidori

In a perfect world it would be the case that governments could and would make decisions that are followed by all citizens.

However, it is not governments that suffer but the governed.

In this case the governed were beaten and tortured as slaves.

Korea’s judiciary have found Mitsubishi legally liable for damages-this is the crux of the matter.

Legally liable!

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

This is straight up robbery if S. Korea does this.

10 ( +16 / -6 )

jeancolmarToday  09:07 am JST

From the above article: "Japan insists its decision on export controls was not in retaliation for a ruling that its companies still owe compensation for past forced labor."

And that is a lie. A big lie and a transparent lie.

Note that anti-South Korean posters barely touch (if at all) on the central issue, the necessity for export control, going on instead on off the point tangents that deal with South Korea's supposed short comings.

What are the so-called export controls really for? Why cannot matters be resolved without them? Why did Japan impose them without warning? All we are getting from the Abe government is static snow.

Update yourself first.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

Abe is just mimicking Trump: https://www.todayonline.com/world/japan-taking-page-trump-uses-trade-against-south-korea

It's not so much creative.

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Tokyo has requested third-party arbitration of the Korean wartime labor dispute as stipulated in a 1965 treaty. The deadline for a response is Thursday, and Seoul has indicated that it will not respond.

And why will South Korea not respond? It says so in the 1965 Treaty that any difference in interpretation is to be settled by arbitration. Are they so afraid of losing? Just like their refusal to settle the Liancourt Rocks at the ICJ? When former WWII veterans tried to bring suit against Japan in US Courts the US Government put them to rest on the grounds that the 1951 Treaty put all such matters behind. This is how a trusted ally behaves. South Korea needs to learn how to behave as a trusted ally. And if they can't, they shouldn't be whining and crying about not being treated as one. Moon will go down in history as the leader that wrecked South Korea's economy. Both North Korea and China are laughing their rear ends off.

11 ( +15 / -4 )

What's even less creative its using historical disputes for decades to get more money and apologies from Japan and make relations ever worse.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Norman GoodmanToday  08:46 am JST

The Japanese government is not Mitsubishi. Mitsubishi is not the Japanese government. Mitsubishi has to pay its workers, and the government cannot declare that it doesn't have to.

The government of South Korea is not the former Korean employees or slaves of Mitsubishi. Money cannot be handed to the South Korean government and consider that payment to the employees or slaves of Mitsubishi.

If anything the S Korean government should be paying these people because they almost 100% responsible at this point.

Because of what I wrote above, NO. If the governments of Japan and South Korea made a deal, its nothing to do with Mitsubishi and the Korean workers and slaves, even if those governments wanted it to be, it still isn't. The victims are welcome to sue whomever they like for compensation until they actually get it at this point, whether Mitsubishi or actually owing them or the governments of Japan and South Korea for getting in the way of them getting their compensation.

I still cannot understand why everyone does not understand this except to say most people are sheep who think governments can do whatever they want.

In such case, tell those people shouting on the street to move to where Mitsubishi Subsidiary located in Seoul , instead of in front of Japan embassy. And Tell Chong Dae Hyup and those comfort old women that they are accusing wrong ones , should find Korean ex-comfort station owners and make claims.

5 ( +11 / -6 )

The article clearly states that Mitsubishi refused to negotiate with the former coerced workers.

The article also says South Korea has indicated it will not respond by Thursday to a request for third-party arbitration as stipulated by the 1965 treaty. I don't like Mitsubishi but South Korea, if they believe they are right, should be going for it, and Mitsubishi should wait until the rulings of that process are finalized, then everybody should abide by those rulings. Is SK afraid it is wrong about this?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

 Seizing SK company and invidual assets in Japan? On what legal basis though? Are you suggesting Japan take a leaf from the 1940s Germany?

Actually Japan has every right to seize all Korean assets in Japan since SK government had unilaterally declared the 1965 treaty as null and void then Japan has the right to reclaim all assets that was forfeited by the 1965 treaty.

Basically the door swings both way.

5 ( +10 / -5 )

The basis and motivation for President Moon Jae-in Government duplicity refusing third-party arbitration, is in all likelihood President Moon Jae-in Government will fail when viewing the article below.

This is frankly the so called dishonest rationale President Moon Jae-in has adopted

The irony to President Moon Jae-in reckless disrespect of International Law is Moon Jae-in is commiserate as the then chief presidential secretary, working on the review in 2005 as part of the administration of President Roh Moo-hyun.........

Declassified Documents Could Trigger Avalanche of Lawsuits

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2005/01/17/2005011761025.html

I will have full copies of these declassified documents very soon and have requested help from SK friends in Nagoya to translate.....

8 ( +9 / -1 )

Best approach for S. Korea and the Moon government.

-Back down and you win. Follow the agreements and you win. Good relations with Japan is the win for S. Korea

3 ( +7 / -4 )

"Japan's Foreign Minister Taro Kono on Tuesday hinted Tokyo might retaliate."

If he bans kpop and kdrama, he will have my vote to be the next PM...

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Some here seem to be caught up into the march toward war. I assume that the mass killings the world endured some 75 years ago is forgotten. Sad to read and see people wrapping themselves into nationalism. I saw this in my country after 9/11. People wanted blood and we bombed the sh.. out of both Afghanistan and Iraq. Nationalism, a great cover for all sorts of agendas.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

Nothing has been forgotten. Sorry to break your bubble 'JustMyThoughts'.

$800 million dollars was paid in 1965 the equivalent to $6 billion today. Over 50 apologies given by several Japanese PM.

No one wants war or bad relations with S. Korea, what we want is fairness and to abide by the agreements S. Korea signed willingly to settle all such issues.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Over 50 apologies given by several Japanese PM.

And none ratified or supported by the Diet. And most not really apologies but expressions of regret.....which is like saying "I regret getting caught on camera bashing you over the head, otherwise, I might have gotten away with it."

Japanese school textbooks carry on as if there were admissions of guilt too. Can't forget that.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

If Japan and S Korea governments did not agree on the 1965 treaty, then Mitsubishi would have to pay those workers.

Governments don't have the authority to sign away the rights and obligations of citizens and companies in treaties with foreign governments. Why is that so hard for people to understand? Governments are not God.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Quote 'And none ratified or supported by the Diet.'

The blessing of the Pope from Rome and it would still not be good enough for people like you. That's the sad truth.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

@Heckleberry,

Yep, victim blaming is the way to go.

Yeah, um, no. I am not victim blaming, Rather, I was trying to highlight the politics associated with this issue over the last decades and what these individuals have done.... and how the Korean government itself has handled it. And when I say the Korean government, that includes the judiciary!!

@gaijinland,

the victims have been filing claims since at least the 50’s. That’s why Japan paid a lot of compensation money to S Korea in the 60’s. The problem is that the authoritarian government in S Korea at the time never gave any of the Japanese money to the victims and instead pocketed a lot of it and used the rest for infrastructure investment. If anything the S Korean government should be paying these people because they almost 100% responsible at this point.

Exactly the point I was trying to elicit!

@kwatt,

All former presidents except Moon accepted 1965 treaty settled completely and irreversibly, so they just followed it.

Except that somehow things changed with respect to the South Korean judiciary.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

“The Miracle on the Han was made possible in 1965 when South Korea and Japan normalized relations and Seoul received $800 million in grants and soft loans that served as compensation for colonial-era abuses. This money was invested in infrastructure and heavy industrialization projects and was a catalyst for South Korea’s era of rapid growth. Given the smoldering bilateral tensions that prevail, Japan gets little kudos for its contributions” 

This was from Kingston's Nationalism in Asia. Money doesn't solve all the issues of Japan's lack of legitimate repentance and revisionism among nationalist figures, but the South Korean government needs to own up to its part in using the funding for its infrastructure instead of paying it to the victims directly. At least economically speaking, Japan has paid most of its dues.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@Norman Goodman

No one is asking to sign away any rights of Korean citizens or companies.

They deserve to be paid and Japan gave the S. Korean government money to cover such cost in 1965.

Ask the S. Korean government what happened to the money

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Governments don't have the authority to sign away the rights and obligations of citizens and companies in treaties with foreign governments. Why is that so hard for people to understand? Governments are not God.

The forced labor and other every future problem are included in the 1965 treaty with agreement, That's why it is called the Treaty to make normal diplomatic relation for peace. If not, Japan would never agree on it and never pay full compensation. S Korea government always try to look for loopholes for any future problems.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Norman GoodmanToday  11:02 am JST

If Japan and S Korea governments did not agree on the 1965 treaty, then Mitsubishi would have to pay those workers.

Governments don't have the authority to sign away the rights and obligations of citizens and companies in treaties with foreign governments. Why is that so hard for people to understand? Governments are not God.

Who is this blessed saint? You aren't GOD either.

I have a few issues I would like to sue South Koreans. Where should I go without being interfered by governments for 100 % pure justice?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Time for all Japanese companys to pull out of Korea!

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

The blessing of the Pope from Rome and it would still not be good enough for people like you. That's the sad truth.

You are right but for all the wrong reasons. I don't expect an apology from the current government of Japan. I never have because no one in the current government is responsible for what happened. Pretty much all those people are too dead to apologize at this point.

My constant demand has been that the Japanese government simply acknowledge clearly the wrongs and horrors it inflicted on the people of Korea during the colonial period from government to textbook.

Earlier I was merely pointing out the flimsiness of what are being mistakenly referred to as "apologies". I was not saying apology was the way to go. Its not. Clear admissions of Japan's past evil deeds is the way to go.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Sure, let's destroy the economic ties that these two countries have. Great idea... good grief.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

AlexBecu, Bubble? You're speaking for 'we' and seem to know exactly what is 'fair'. Come'on, the people of Korea want more conversation, so what. How about talking?

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

But Japanese politicians aren’t even aware,so many of them of what their ancestors actually did!

They have never seen the ‘other side’ and don’t want to.

Therefore, all the stupid gaffes continue that ignite the Chinese and the Koreans again and again which ensure that the past is just a festering wound!

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@YuriOtani

Time for all Japanese companys to pull out of Korea!

Do you have any idea how much money those Japanese companies would leave behind if they pull out of Korea? I am sure it is far more than your all property, but less than 10% of the governmental budget of 2019 Japan.

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

They deserve to be paid and Japan gave the S. Korean government money to cover such cost in 1965.

If you owe Morticia money you better give it to Morticia and not Uncle Fester. If you gave the money to Uncle Fester and he did not give it to Morticia, tough. You still owe Morticia. And Morticia knows three things 1) Uncle Fester already spent the money on one of his crazy experiments 2) Uncle Fester is never going to pay her and 3) she can enlist Uncle Fester in the fight to get you to pay her what you still owe her.

Moral of the story: Don't hand Uncle Fester money unless you owe it to him. Its not rocket science.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

The truth will eventually rev

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The truth will eventually reveal itself from amidst all this obfuscation .

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This’ll make Japan look bad at the opening ceremony of the Olympics. Abe in a Mario costume trying to preach peace while Japan can’t get along with Korea.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

This looks prettier.

Mitsubishi Materials to set up compensation fund to settle WWII forced labour lawsuits by Chinese wartime workers

Under the agreement, Mitsubishi Materials will pay 100,000 yuan (about $15,000) to each of the victims and their families...[T]he fund will manage the money paid from the company to the victims, who number 3,765...

https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/mitsubishi-materials-to-set-up-compensation-fund-to-settle-wwii-forced-labour-lawsuits-by-chinese-wartime-workers

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

@YuriOtani

Time for all Japanese companys to pull out of Korea!

Wha?, really? You do know that the entire Japanese economy is based on exports. Silly comment. Hey, how about pulling out of China and the USA also, I'm certain that the world will continue just fine...

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

And S. Korea would be horrified to learn just how intertwined Japan and the US are, at all levels, making them expedable if they were to ever form even closer ties with China.

@Hillclimber - Would love to hear some examples demonstrating how Japan and US are intertwined 'at all levels'. Without examples it's just a meaningless throwaway line.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Time for all Japanese companys to pull out of Korea!

@YuriOtani - this is why you're not in a position of power. Japanese businesses stop doing business you say? Face meet palm.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

Well said, Kono-Sensei. These measures should involve seizing Korean company and individuals assets in Japan, and drastically cutting the number of SK tourists that enter Japan.

@Ganbare - And after seizing assets of Korean companies and individuals? Round up all Koreans in Japan, put them in a camp, make them wear a little symbol on their clothes?

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

All I know is I’m sick of this mess. South Korea... I don’t even know what to say except foolish.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

You don't see african countries suing U.S for slavery. Why south korea is allowed to sue Japan. This is bonkers.

6 ( +8 / -2 )

If today Korea is the country it is, it is thanks to the technology that Japan has given as compensation for its past mistakes.

The agreements signed between the two parties must be respected and Korea does not do so, which shows that the only thing that interests them is money and not the moral compensation of those affected, who are their own citizens.

Japan has paid for its actions and has asked for forgiveness, it does not have to do anything else.

The problem is that Kore has a great inferiority complex.

Stop trying to live from the past, advance Koreans and turn the page.

The past serves not to make the same mistakes.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Under the agreement, Mitsubishi Materials will pay 100,000 yuan (about $15,000) to each of the victims and their families...[T]he fund will manage the money paid from the company to the victims, who number 3,765...

Japanese and Chinese governments agreed on the peace treaty in 1972, however Japan did not pay any compensation to China because Chinese government accepted no compensation from Japan at that time, Mitsubishi Materials have responsibility about compensation to victims even if Chinese government did not ask it for the peace treaty. Regarding compensation to Koreans, Japanese government already paid full compensation in 1962.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Can you live your life without Japan or you cannot South Korea?

Japan can live it's life without both Koreas. So Let's go separated lives for ever.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

correction:

Japanese government already paid full compensation in 1965.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

 and drastically cutting the number of SK tourists that enter Japan.

Real smart (not) , you want to further hurt Japanese businesses, for what? Korean's can easily take their money somewhere else, and folks here WILL be hurt in the process!

Kind of ignorant thinking really.

-3 ( +0 / -3 )

@kwatt

Japanese government already paid full compensation in 1965.

Can you show the receipt?

FYI, in S. Korea and other capitalistic countries, governments can not and do not pay in lieu of private companies.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

Can you show the receipt?

All former presidents had not complained about Japan's full compensation including forced labor since 1965, except moron Moon. That's clear receipt of it.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@kawatt

You can not show a receipt, and your claim is invalid in the court. It is so simple and universal.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Here we go.

This is from the above article:

Japan insists its decision on export controls was not in retaliation for a ruling that its companies still owe compensation for past forced labor.

But on Tuesday, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono warned Tokyo might take further action if South Korea pushes harder on the issues related to historical issues.

This is old but it should be at questioned. Are export controls in fact retaliation for the Korean court decision regarding compensation for forced laborers? Japan say no. But look at the above paraphrase from Kono: "Tokyo might take further action if South Korea pushes harder on the issues related to historical issues." That gives the show away, in my view.

But suddenly there appears another issue: "The Japanese side says it has been trying to discuss the issue of export controls with South Korea since 2016 and the failure to hold such meetings was a key reason behind Tokyo's decision." This is out of the blue. There are no details. And this is 2019, not 2016. Why did not the Japanese government raise the issue in 2016? At least give us the details, Kono-san. Specifically where has South Korea been remiss?

I venture this current problem has little or nothing to do with export controls and more (or everything) to do with the compensation for past forced labor.

I'm not the only one to think so. Read the vehement anti-South Korean posters. They have practically nothing to say about export controls and lot about compensation.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

The Japanese side says it has been trying to discuss the issue of export controls with South Korea since 2016 and the failure to hold such meetings was a key reason behind Tokyo's decision." This is out of the blue. There are no details. And this is 2019, not 2016. Why did not the Japanese government raise the issue in 2016? At least give us the details, Kono-san. Specifically where has South Korea been remiss?

They did.

The so called white country privilege status is under revue every three years in which they need to provide documents of how the material had been used. SK continued to refuse turning in the required document for revue even though Japan made numerous calls.

That resulted into revoking SK's white nation status.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Can you document this? This allegation did appear in the above article.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Excuse me, this allegation did appear in truncated form. The mere allegation is not a fact. More needs to be said about about this matter. That it came out so late should raise suspicion. An in-depth probe is absolutely necessary..

0 ( +0 / -0 )

showchinmono: "Japan can live it's life without both Koreas. So Let's go separated lives for ever."

He says at the very moment Kono BEGS to be still included in military information shared by SK and the US, and cried last year when it couldn't participate in the military drills. Japan would suffer far more than SK if all ties were cut. And then when the next quake hits and your looking for aid?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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