Japan voices irritation at Ban's comments

We need determination by political leaders. Correct awareness about history is needed.

All nations need to examine their histories.

SK has a few issues to reexamine too.

Its military follies in Vietnam are a good place to start.

All the experts here should know his name isn't Mr. Moon but Mr. Ban. A small thing but it's hard to take comments seriously if people are unaware of the UN Secretary General's actual family name.

The secretary general of the united nations should know better than making comments telling Tokyo to 'face up to the past'.

Ban Ki-Moon is not fully aware of anything, world-wide. What has he done to contribute to world peace or posperity?

Onsen. I can not come up with anything. I do know that north and south Korea have been on the verge of all out war lately. So where is Mr. Moon in that dispute, oh maybe he is at the UN trying to support another dispute, one involving Japan. Come on Mr. UN Chief, start concentrating on peace and prosperity in the world, isn't this what the head of the UN is suppose to stand for and not making remarks to cause turbulence?. You are exactly right Onsen!

What Moon has done isn't the question up for debate here, though, is it? What has Japan done to put it's less than reputable past behind it, that's the real question. All the time the government is populated by those who deny the the facts of Japan's war record, how can we really expect anything to improve? These individuals would not be allowed to take office in Germany, a country that has been truly rehabilitated into the world community. This is a shameful situation and one that needs taking care of NOW!

Amazing. The same Korean U.N. Secretary General has never even once criticized China for its white-washing of history.

And how much criticism has he leveled against North Korea, which completely denies its own sordid history?

Shows clearly that Ban is not up to the task of staying neutral as UN Secretary General.

This guy says one thing, then retracts it. Only very recently...

NEW YORK – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon denied on Monday there is any bias in the UN against Israel. At a press “encounter” at the UN Headquarters in New York, a reporter for Israel Radio pressed Ban about his comments last Friday while meeting with students at the UN headquarters in Jerusalem.**** Ban Ki-moon urges Israel, Palestinians to refrain from undermining peace talks Ban simply said, “I don’t think there is discrimination against Israel at the United Nations.” He continued, “The Israeli government maybe raised this issue that there’s some bias against Israel, but Israel is one of the 193 member states. Thus, Israel should have equal rights and opportunities without having any bias, any discrimination. That’s a fundamental principle of the United Nations charter. And thus, Israel should be fully given such rights.” In Jerusalem last week, the secretary- general reportedly admitted to students that there is bias against Israel in the UN. “Unfortunately because of the conflict, Israel has been weighed down by criticism and suffered from bias – sometimes even discrimination,” Ban said at the time, according to several media sources. On Monday in New York, Ban retracted these comments, and emphasized that “incitement against any group of people, any religion or tradition… is unacceptable.”

Lol, well it looks like the impartiality of the UN is over.

Ban needs to understand he should be impartial

Ban ki Moon, Moon ki Ban, Bam de Ful, who cares. Guy is a disappointment. Should have waited till he got out of office before letting his nationalism get the better if him. I say he goofed this one big time.

B.K. Moon on being Korean and missing the most important point of history at his finger tips. The most disgusting nation that needs "the soul searching" is North Korea that repeatedly violates UN warnings under his nose. Was he afraid or playing the covered up for N.Korea (same as El Baredei as head of nuclear agency)? UN has becomes a lowly place for all forms of corrupted politics in betraying the UN's founding charter itself. Moon just shows another ugly example.

They should ban him from commenting on the past, given the total lack of any contribution he is making to the present.

Ban Ki Moon. A joke of a man, leading a joke of an organization. Meanwhile, people are dying in Syria and Egypt and Mr. Ban is doing... this? I'm sure the UN is worth $8 Billion of US taxpayer money every year. They're just waiting to prove it to me.

I am afraid that the UN has a lot more to worry about these days than the acknowledgment / lack thereof by a country for war crimes etc., that took place over 7 decades ago...

The SG should be devoting 110% of his attention to those things that are threatening top blow up half the middle-east and subsequently drag half of the rest of the world into it for the sake of a few barrels of crude...

Get with the times SG Ban - there will be PLENTY of time to sling your left over political rhetoric from your stint as SKFM at Japan when you finish solving the problems of the present... GET BACK TO WORK...

What has Japan done to put it's less than reputable past behind it, that's the real question.

Well if you joined reality you would be able to examine the last seventy - SEVENTY - years! Are you REALLY still living in the 1940s?!

It seems that he's still been working as a foreign minister of South Korea somehow.

@Morry

Amazing. The same Korean U.N. Secretary General has never even once criticized China for its white-washing of history. And how much criticism has he leveled against North Korea, which completely denies its own sordid history?

You said it!

I heard he is targetting the next Korean President after he abdicated from the throne of World President (that's what he is called in Korea). No wonder he comments at the Korean side.

Look at him! He suddenly started commenting about Syria!

How far will Japan go denying the History of the World? It's a shame for Japan to cover up and dismiss the past to justify protecting and disputing over a territory which they have no business claiming.

As expected, back peddling...

Japan misunderstood 'correct view of history' comments: U.N. chief Ban THE HAGUE, Aug. 28, Kyodo United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon said on Wednesday that Japan misunderstood the comments he made earlier this week about Japan's need to have a "correct view of history." Ban told reporters at The Hague that he regretted the misunderstanding in Japan about the remarks made in Seoul on Monday on the political relationship between Japan, China and South Korea. "I regret that there was misunderstanding on (the) Japanese side," Ban said, adding what he said in Seoul was that political differences and tension "should be resolved through dialogue, by (a) strong will of leaders."

Perhaps he didn't realise how sensitive this issue is. Perhaps he doesn't do any thinking at all. Why isn't he in Egypt or Syria now? It must have been very comfy to be honored in Korea, but he is neglecting his duties. The credibility of the UN is at stake here, but he doesn't seem to care?

As expected, back peddling...

Yeah especially when you can see he had singled out Tokyo in the earlier article.

Every nation white washes their history but some do it more than others.

FYI:

"BAN" is the family name not "MOON". ""Moon" is apart of his first name.

Hence - Mr. Ban, foreign minster Ban, Sec General Ban.

@Onsen: Did you check the payroll of Mr. Ban? I can not believe he works for only $230,000 a month to go to many countries in middle east. When you travel with a corporation or govt money, you have to pay cost with your own omeny, then later, you get paid back. Remember? If you are not careful, you will get less money than you paid. I can not believe UNSG gets way less than middle management pay of Japan Inc. With Harvard education? Maybe he should request visiting Japan to be safe? Not USA, where guns are all over. Fact finding mission to Japan is much safer than his trips to middle east Arabic Countries. Not like his own countries that had Korean wars and separated.

What Ban Ki Moon and the rest of the literate world are saying is that Japanese leaders cannot publicly acknowledge Japan's barbaric conduct during WWII. It is more difficult for them to apologize for something that they know nothing about. For decades Japanese schools have been using text books that do not factually describe the atrocities committed by the Imperial forces upon unarmed civilian populations. This is why Japan is finding it difficult to be accepted as a morally equal partner in the world community.

Japan taking strong exception to Mr Banki Moon's words and this shows they are well aware of their inner world.But in regard to nuclear development the head state may consult the Russian counterpart.That's all to the good.Forget tsunami and the devastation it left in its wake.

Seriously Japan can you just deal with this so everyone can just move on. If Japan presented a united front apologizing for the past instead of over the top whitewashing everything the good will and economic boost to the region would be immeasurable.

G-8 or G-20 all roads lead to Rome.Tennyson had a prophetic vision about the future world. So I think the GS is right to suggest that Japan could give herself some time for introspection.One nation one state should be the motto of the members of the international platform.But personally speaking I have to say we have no truck with Russia.They belong to the Commonwealth of Independent States.When shall we learn from our mistakes?What is the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project for?S.Dasgupta,West Bengal,India.

@wasabizuki

I'd say that in "proper" English, the family name should come first when talking about Chinese, Koreans, Japanese, Hungarians ... wherever that's the way names are written. Why reverse it? The Japanese media don't talk about "Beckham David."

Many recent school English textbooks have Japanese characters introducing themselves family name first. Certainly that's the way my kids were taught.

marcelito

Well - I,ll take an uneducated guess here but I,d say as the head of UN he is probably more aware of international issues and contributed more to the world peace or prosperity than you, me or LDP,s Chief Secretary Suga.

With a salary of at least $227,253 as well as a budget for personal entertainment and free housing and security protection, he gets paid to do his job.

Oh and his job desciption?

The UN Charter designates the Secretary-General as "chief adminstrative officer" of the organization and head of the UN Secretariat with its 50,000 international civil service officers. The General Assembly, Security Council and other organs of the UN may also assign the Secretary-General certain tasks to perform. This means the Secretary-General has to oversee hundreds of programs, funds and agencies, and balance the budget -- a large portion of which is often overdue -- plus represent the UN to the media and in conferences around the world. The Secretary-General also has the authority, under Article 99 of the Charter, to bring to the attention of the Security Council matters that threaten international peace and security. Article 99 is interpreted as providing the Secretary-General with an independent political role on issues before the Security Council. Aside from his formal functions, the Secretary-General is expected to uphold the values of the UN and act as its moral authority.

Mrr. Ban: watch your mouth, Don;t copy Japan;s Aso;s big mouth. Check any one of school library in Japan and find "Barefoot Gen" 40 manga copies are stuck there before you tell Japan to learn history.

I read Ban Ki-Moon on WikiPedia. Read and find out his life and his diplomatic life.

Mr. Suga is smart. Asking what Mr. Moon meant instead of following or disobeying Moon's wish. Now, Moon has to think what to explain instead of copycatted idea from Korean head ready. She is working to ease tension from N K and maybe unification movement people might succeed. Mr. Moon is quite busy on Syria situation now,. Does he have time to compose Mr. Suga's question?

Onsen, only less than @240,000? A month or a year? With that kind of cheap pay, he goes to Ieaq and many dangerous area disregarding assassination scare.

I was only the one goofed writing Mr, 0oon. Other people wrote Ban, Sp, politely corrected me. /////////////////read back. I was the only idiot who wrote Mr. Moon.

This is Asia, 70 years is nothing here. Our westernized minds can't really grasp this, but the Orient will always be there to remind us. Peace on the seven seas.

Ban's words, and attitude, look like he was an envoy from China, not the UN, in which China has lots of weight and influence. I think we should ban Ban from speaking, because he is not aware of what is going on in the world.

The truth hurts, does it not?

Of course Japan won't listen to the UN Secretary General and others. The Japanese wont face their past atrocities. It's like playing the violin while Rome burns..

@serendipitous. Thank you for corrllecting. So, just like Chinese names such as Mao TseTomg, Ban is the family name and Ki-Moon is his first name. Japanese use like that. We use family name and then the name of the person. Oriental way.

While Ban should limit his comments and be impartial, everything he said was true. THAT is what is probably irritating to the Japanese. They want to FORGET it already.

When Yoshkuni has a display of unit 731 and a short film describing live vivisection on humans , the neighbours might start to believe the past is the past.

Ban is a S Korean national no matter who he is. It is very natural that he should take / took his country's side to criticize Japan as to his comments. It seems that everybody would do the same thing.

Japan is irritated? Ahahahaha... that's a good one. Very nice.

Wait, it wasn't meant as a self-deprecating joke?

Then it's just SAD,

All Japanese politicians should take a trip to Hiroshima to explore the effects of war. Maybe then we would see a different set of opinions being espoused?

Ban's just putting pressure from another angle cause the American's want to keep their base in Japan and hence don't want to openly offend. Hence as a muppet for the American regime, Ban needs to say these things.