Abe offers sympathy, help to S Korea over ferry disaster

Sincerely hoping these leaders say enough is enough and start working together.

All of these children that are missing and probably dead. I pray that some may still be alive in the wreckage. God bring comfort to their families and the children that escaped.

How about sending some help?

lol I get a thumbs down for suggesting sending help. hilarious. human decency is not just in words but also deeds.

Well, what else is he going to do realistically as a politician? His sympathy is worth neither praise or condemnation...It is normal protocol and should be expected. Its not hard to express sympathy and certainly isnt a praiseworthy act in itself.

ohayo206:

How about sending some help?

This is a big tragedy in terms of loss of life, but a very small one in terms of size. It's a ferry, and not a particularly large one at that. The Korean coast guard has more than enough manpower and support vessels to handle this.

In other words, offering to send help would be unnecessary and probably taken as offensive.

In other words, offering to send help would be unnecessary and probably taken as offensive.

Exactly right.

In other words, offering to send help would be unnecessary and probably taken as offensive.

Only if you have too much pride invested in it.

Sending help is unnecessary and offensive. Did they bother to even ask? That sounds more than a little presumptive.

human decency is not just in words

Precisely. And how you (ohayo) convey the message you're trying to communicate is also important..

The US Navy is sending a ship. Japan could do a bit more. It's a neighbor country for god sake.

Japanese forgot that Koreans sent help for tsunami victims. Angry Japanese need to chill out.

Well, it looks like Japan DID offer help, anyway.

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20140417-00000039-mai-int

And the netouyos are going crazy.

tomas, I read the comments and they were mostly along the lines of "that's a good response from Japan, but I wonder if they will accept our help." Too busy attacking the Japanese right wing and no time for comments of sympathy?

Umm, no. They are either predictable right-wing gloating, or not wanting to offer any help at all.

These are the top comments:

これが大人の国の対応

"This is the response of an adult country"

中国に頼って下さい。良い仲なので。

"Please rely on China. Since they're good friends."

ただし金は一銭も出すな。

"But do not pay a cent."

韓国にプライドがあるのならば　丁重にお断りするでしょう。

"If Korea has any pride, then they will politely decline."

日本は大人対応だが、それはやめてくれ！ 税金だべ！

"Japan's response is mature, but please don't do that! It's tax-payers money!"

Yes, so much for "Those Koreans don't need help! It will only offend them!"

Sending help is unnecessary and offensive. Did they bother to even ask? That sounds more than a little presumptive. You are clueless. Korean/Chinese has been taught distorted history. As a consequence they are haters. So if Japan offer help, they would take it as "(&)*, you think we can't handle the situation". Recent case in point, S korea ask for 10,000 bullet in UN africa operation. Japan send 10,000 bullet though UN. Later lots complaints from S koreans about offer was in public, and it was unneccessary and japan sent it for.... No words of thanks lol.

Why do not we keep the record straight, rather than indulge ourselves in speculation?

Japanese government offered help to South Korean government. South Korean government did not reply to the offer.

Abe san is not alone amongst leaders of government to express sympathy for S Korean ferry victims. I suppose it is breathtakingly naive of me, to be irritated to read references to 'comfort women' and 'sex slaves'.

That's Abe san expressing “heartfelt sympathy” for S Korean ferry victims' and families. Wrong press conference for 'comfort women' and 'sex slaves'.

Feuding neighbors?

This crisis will develop slowly. If the ship doesnt sink completely. Divers will have to take bodies one by one. And thats pretty sad. Its dirty work. Sadly

287 bodies is alot. Not a week job.

ohayo206Apr. 17, 2014 - 01:51PM JST How about sending some help?

Huh?

Do you want Japan to send it's navy to help and save the folks that died? That would go over like a lead balloon trying to make it around the world.

This tragedy is one that doesn't need help, it needs sympathy for those that lost family members and Prime Minister has done just that.

Better check the Japanese submarines for scratch marks.

Many diving equipment is needed. The only ones that can help are the people from diving clubs. Butt who knows. Time is running short forbhopes

My whole heart goes to the victims and their families in this tragedy. The thing saddened me the most is that many of victims are just kids, a single turn of catastrophic event robbed their unfulfilled dreams. That is just so awful!

Abe did a right thing by putting aside politics and focus on humanity.

Well seeing that the ferry was built in Japan fairly recently, Japan can help by investigating any structural problems with the ferry.

Korea did very nicely out of the merger between the two nations. People seem to forget that many Koreans were actually in favor of it, and the ordinary people of Korea benefited hugely from it in increased living standards, life expectancy and the end of hereditary slavery which had held 40% of the population, and so on.

Looks like you've been particularly selective in your choice of history book reading, you painted the Japanese annexation of Korea purely in a positive light, completely ignoring the Japanese brutal oppression of Korean peoples, their way of life, language and culture.

Ideally, people read history books to gain a balanced view of historical events, not to seek out evidence for their own ideology.

the ferry was built in Japan fairly recently

The ferry was built in 1994. And Korea has made changes. It would be difficult to put the blame on Japan.

This ferry was previously one of the A-line fleet that is based in Amami Oshima. Strangely enough one of their similar type ferries over-turned a few years back..no-one died but the accident was blamed on poor loading and waves hitting it side on. Maybe a design issue?

So has South Korea either thanked Japan for it's heartfelt sympathy or offer of assistance? Or have they declined everything as they feel it's not "sincere"? I bet they will act like a 6th grader and just ignore it all.

ohayo206APR. 17, 2014 - 01:51PM JST How about sending some help?

They refused the help offered by the Japanese government.... too bad since there many young kids out there needs help to survive but it's been 3 days since the accident and their chances to live are now very slim.

Sue JonesApr. 17, 2014 - 09:33PM JST Well seeing that the ferry was built in Japan fairly recently, Japan can help by investigating any structural problems with the ferry.

Let me see if I get this right, you are blaming Japan because the Captain of this boat made a mistake and sunk his ship?

Let me help you out a bit, just because the ship was built in Japan 20 years ago doesn't make it Japan's fault because the Captain and his charts were wrong. The ship passed all South Korean safety inspections and was certified to do the job it was designed to do. The blame for this tragic accident falls squarely on those responsible for not doing their job.

If someone is driving with his eyes closed and kills some people the blame doesn't fall on the automaker, the blame falls squarely on the driver.

The Captain and his crew ran as quickly as they could to the nearest exit after 30 minutes and left those kids to their own fate.

Please, try harder and stop trying to blame the wrong folks for this tragedy.

OssanAmericaApr. 18, 2014 - 12:38AM JST So has South Korea either thanked Japan for it's heartfelt sympathy or offer of assistance? Or have they declined everything as they feel it's not "sincere"? I bet they will act like a 6th grader and just ignore it all.

As always OssanAmerica, you bring logic and truth.

President Park and her administration is being blamed for the lackluster response they showed at the beginning. Worse of all for her regime the parents are biting down on her neck for the little answers her people are giving.

Japan can help by investicating any structural problems with the ferry.

Can you realize a reaction of korean side if Japanese would find that the "structural problem" was caused by changes in design which had been made by koreans ?

Why do not we keep the record straight, rather than indulge ourselves in speculation?

Japanese government offered help to South Korean government. South Korean government did not reply to the offer.

Spot on. A lending hand is useful only if one chooses to accept it.

My heart goes out to the victims and their families. I hope they can find more survivors, even if the prospects look dim.

But I thought the help was unnecessary, and Korea would take it as offense? A change of heart for the right wingers?

But I thought the help was unnecessary, and Korea would take it as offense? A change of heart for the right wingers?

That was my comment. Why not address it to me?

At the time, the offer wasn't being reported on - and I'm a little surprised that an offer was even made. South Korea has plenty of ships and smaller fishing boats available, not to mention a capable coast guard and navy. Offering to assist is like offering to send assistance if an office building was on fire - it implies that the local fire crews aren't up to the job.

But that's just me. Abe apparently felt it would be polite to offer. I probably wouldn't have.

I can only think about the missing adults and children. The thought that the children might be dead makes me sick. I continue to pray that they may still be rescued.

First airplane, next ferry, what's next .....a train? Condolences to victims and their families.

**japanese has well trained divers and ship who specialized in resque from sinkin ship. Prob the best and most experienced in a world

It must have made so much difference on the no. Of survivers if they accepted as soon as they got offer. Cuz they have been all waiting for go sign from korea still now