Less bluster, but no compromise seen as S Korean, Japan ministers meet in China

Relations between the two U.S. allies are at their worst in years, with a trade row rooted in a decades-old dispute over compensation for Koreans forced to work during Japan's wartime occupation of South Korea.

They forgot to mention the spectacularly exceedingly maddeningly lingeringly bitterness over Japan's perceived failure to atone for past colonialism.

Or something.

I think S.K. has a lot more to lose than Japan does if relations don't improve.

Japan shouldn't sweat it and not bother with more meetings unless S.K. changes its tone and rhetoric.

Japan doesn't need help from SK.

Jp govt couldn't stand SK's attitude any more.

This isn't news at all.

BTW, am I the only one who thinks Jp govt is trying to distract Jp people from thinking about stupid tax system starting in October, making them point their anger to sthg else like this?

If not, why now?

South Korea needs to do a lot more than just toning down the rhetoric if it has any desire to regain Japan's trust. Let's start with "irreversible" Agreements that SK has reversed. Then they can conduct themselves honorably and agree to Aribitration as per the 1965 Treaty. Which in turn will determine the validity of the SK Court's ruling against Japanese corporations.

South Korea and Japan have toned down the rhetoric but show little sign of compromise in a bitter political and economic dispute 

These media. Always treating SK and Japan in line. Japan has never toned up the rhetoric but rather cool having done what has to be done. It is SK which has been insane and media should accurately report it.

If S. Korea is willing to have bad relations with Japan because of the past because of the colonial times in 1910 it shows they don't care about the relationship with Japan in the present or future. It's a convenient punching bag and a way to keep Japan in check with S. Korea holding the upper hand by using historical cards.

This is not just about the 1965 force labor.

This is about comfort woman deal too, they already went back on the 2015 Final and Irreversible deal. They want a new one now in 2019.

It's about the Takeshima Island which S. Korea took illegally from Japan.

Even the name of Japan Sea is under attack by S. Korea.

This is a battle which S. Korea started a long time ago. Japan is slowly waking up and realizing what the heck is going on.

Exactly assembling parts together isn't technology nor innovation sk will soon learn its only a matter of time

The relationship S. Korea enjoys most is one where Japan backs down every single time!

Look it up for yourselfs... Japan in the past has back down every single time! That's S. Koreas expectation! Japan has to back down every time to Korean demands. Even radar lock on... Japanese apologies!

Politics are bothering economies of both countries.

Japan believes South Korea's economy is hurting more in the trade row, and "doesn't mind waiting for further concessions from Seoul," said the ex-diplomat.

This is where Japanese officials are dead wrong.

In July, Korea's export to Japan went down by $1 billion.

At the same time, Japan's export to Korea went down by $5 billion.

In other word, Abe san's trade war hit Japan 5 times harder than Korea did.

August numbers are expected to be far worse, as Korea's Japan Boycott went into full force in August and not in July, and impacts from Korea's travel boycott isn't even factored in, which is expected to cost Japan $10 billion in lost tourism revenue in 2019.

This is why Abe san needs to surrender to Korea ASAP because Japan's trade deficit can be made perpetual if this continues.

Exactly assembling parts together isn't technology nor innovation sk will soon learn its only a matter of time

@AV - That is naive and extremely uninformed. So why can't Japan assemble some parts and make computer chips anymore? Why can't every country do this?

@AviBajaj

Exactly assembling parts together isn't technology nor innovation sk will soon learn its only a matter of time

SK seems to have learnt that a long time ago as they have been ranked the most innovative country for 6 consecutive years already.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-22/germany-nearly-catches-korea-as-innovation-champ-u-s-rebounds

I hope that China can bring SK and Japan together. There are common goals ahead, unite, my beloved smart people.

One thing I have alway found consistant in this world, - it pays to get on with ones neigbour.

There are common goals ahead

common goals ahead???

Where are they? SK is always moving the goals.

This is where Japanese officials are dead wrong.

In July, Korea's export to Japan went down by $1 billion.

At the same time, Japan's export to Korea went down by $5 billion.

In other word, Abe san's trade war hit Japan 5 times harder than Korea did.

Umm not really . One should consider the size of GDP and export dependency ratio of its economy.

I hope that China can bring SK and Japan together. There are common goals ahead, unite, my beloved smart people.