S Korea suspends first military accords with Japan

Told you all of that talk was for nothing. A complete waste of time and effort for Japan. The way I see it is the civil war in Korea is not Japans problem. Korea has already voided the 65 treaty. Japan should lift sanctions against the North. South Korea only offers Japan getting involved in their civil war against the north. The south is not as innocent as they make the world believe. As for trade, they can be replaced, easy.

YuriOtani

Japan is such an inspirational nation to many of us around the world because of the Japanese government commitment to the area of reconciliation, and that is why I do not understand why the Japanese government would not hold talks on compensation for the use of Korean women as military sex slaves during World War II. I humbly believe that the Japanese government should consider talking directly to the surviving South Korean women about this issue and not get into a back and forth with South Korean government officials. Japanese officials have spoken directly to former POWs from various countries and some Japanese officials have even asked for forgiveness for the mistakes of the past.

Over the years, when I have spoken at the United Nations headquarters in New York about global reconciliation between nations, I speak about the amazing progress that Japan has and is making in bringing about peace in the region. The governments and people of Japan and South Korea seem to be so close to real peace, and I hope that the sex slave issue can be discussed and resolved in the near future.

cruzian1, because the issue was settled in 65. What South Korea is doing is voiding the treaty. If the compensation part is rejected by them, then what is the treaty worth? The Republic of Korea is building a base that could be used against Japan. In fact it is being built on the premise of Japanese aggression. It will be of limited use in defending against the north.

Anyhow if it was not this issue it would be another. If the Republic of Korea wants to void the treaty of friendship, then let it happen. Putting pressure on Japan is great political fodder but it comes at a price.

These countries need to do some serious growing up...

Japan definitely owes south korean women more compensation for WW2, and acknowledge their past war crimes. Also, south Korea definitely shouldn't make deals with Japan until Japan gives up Dokdo Islands.

These countries need to do some serious growing up...

Korea and Japan were ready to sign the agreement to share intelligence and work out matters relating to North Korea. It is the South Korean side stalling because of opposition in South Korea to topics completely unrelated to the current issue and threat at the moment.

Past issues unrelated to the topic at hand shouldn't be holding things up. I guess it isn't until those North Korean missiles are flying over Seoul again that the South Koreans will agree on this particular topic at hand.

PIty, because such an accord would be another big step in getting Japan and South Korea closer and on friendlier terms. Culturally, the change in relations in the past ten years (since the Japan/Korea World Cup in 2002) has been amazing. The comfort women issue is of course a big issue but it shouldn't prevent new accords like this. They need to look to the future, not dwell on the past forever. As I've mentioned before, no amount of compensation or apologizing could be agreed upon anyway and, according to the 1965 agreement, the issue was settled financially but SK didn't distribute much of the money, apparently.

65 was a "normalization" treaty not a compensation treaty. Even if you claim that compensation has been made, it doesn't help your PM's, politicians and academics go around denying the very thing you claim you've paid money for.

That is why the Japanese government should speak to the surviving comfort women directly and bypass the SK government. Treaties do not wipe away the pain, and speaking directly to the surviving women is just the right thing to do. The saying is so true that the final steps tend to be the hardest. One hundred years from now the comfort wives issue will still be on the table even after all the women have pass if it is not dealt with now, so why not let them tell their stories and deal with all outstanding issues (compensation). I believe that the Japanese officials will deal with this issue and save face at the same time because developing closer military and financial ties with SK is way more important at the present moment.

I believe the Japanese government should take action in the compensation issue, one that involve pointing the finger at the S Korean government for reneging on their part of the deal, while at the same time, holding exhibitions to raise awareness of comfort women and modern female trafficking. That way gentlemen, we will mourn the victims and burn our neighbour.

Lets just wait for when NK are wanting to play with their toys again resulting in missiles flying all over SK. The result? SK once again going to Japan.

And can we please stop talking about the compensation now. That was settled in 65 with the treaty. It was the previous SK governments fault if they decided to spend that money elsewhere, they were the ones who were corrupt not the current Japanese government (in that sense anyway) Yes what happened in WW2 was bad but thats like the the Jewish community demanding compensation from Germany.

For those of you stating that Japan should compensate, let me ask you one. If you had already paid the required amount in full at a restaurant and as you were about to leave another cashier comes by flashing another bill saying you have to pay this as well will you pay?

That is what S.Korean gov is stating. I'll bet if and when N.K. and S.K unifies they will come back with yet another bill asking Japan to pay.

another slap on ur face. go ahead launch their satellites.

Does that mean it was only the SK government that backtracked the agreement or the Japanese government as well? The article seems like it was only the SK, but it doesn't really give specific reasons why. It's too bad too since they were going to sign it this month. So close, yet it didn't happen.

“Kim has postponed his plan to visit Tokyo. He will cautiously handle this issue in consideration of public sentiment,” a defense ministry spokesman told AFP.

That's BS because they were in talks already. They could have easily gauged public sentiment, especially when they announced the agreement in the beginning. There has to be something that triggered the postponement.

whateverz, the answer is Korean elections. Lets say Japan pays direct compensation to the comfort women. Am positive it will not be enough no matter what the figure. If and when the correct amount is paid, then another group would ask for compensation, then another and another. Even if all groups are "compensated", then some other thing will ruin relations. Unless the Republic of Korea wants better relations with Japan, it is not going to happen.

@yuri

Ah, that make sense. The article didn't really specify that. Thanks!

Some analysts say military accords with Japan would spark strong opposition from China..................thats right and the south Koreans understood this!

...and that is why I do not understand why the Japanese government would not hold talks on compensation for the use of Korean women as military sex slaves during World War II. I humbly believe that the Japanese government should consider talking directly to the surviving South Korean women about this issue and not get into a back and forth with South Korean government officials.

The Japanese government WANTED to speak directly with the conscripts back when reparations were being made and Seoul told Tokyo, "No, we'll handle the disbursing of reparations." Now Seoul is saying, "Wait ,YOU missed some" after taking an unknown chunk of reparations and spending it on the country's infrastructure instead of giving it to the people it was intended for. THIS is why Tokyo is not interested in giving Seoul any more money in regards to the matter. It would turn into another South Korean infrastructure project and Seoul would be back in another five years demanding more.

Japan, just wait a generation. All the WW2 people will be long gone by then

I don't see anything that Japan can do that is going to change the minds of the S. Koreans who want to castigate Japan at every opportunity. Best to just walk away and let the S. Koreans stew.

On the other hand there is no reason to give up on sanctions against N. Korea. Two different topics, Yuri.

The Japanese government WANTED to speak directly with the conscripts back when reparations were being made and Seoul told Tokyo, "No, we'll handle the disbursing of reparations." Now Seoul is saying, "Wait ,YOU missed some" after taking an unknown chunk of reparations and spending it on the country's infrastructure instead of giving it to the people it was intended for. THIS is why Tokyo is not interested in giving Seoul any more money in regards to the matter. It would turn into another South Korean infrastructure project and Seoul would be back in another five years demanding more.

Yep. "Baisho Okawari"

There use to be a time when the population of Japan were sympathetic towards the ex-comfort women during the 90's and early 2000 when a apologies were issued and Koizumi set up funds to compensate them. But with this constant annual whining from their leaders and politicians, even the sympathetic ones are now getting tired of it. I mean, if DPJ leader tells them that it was settled in 1965, you are pretty much beating a dead horse.

If and when the situation gets hairy in the Peninsula, the Japanese government should set up free commercial flights to Japanese citizens residing there, and nothing more. Let the SK deal with their brothers up North.

...as many older people in South Korea still have bitter memories of Japan's colonial rule.

Bah. Just forget about these people already and move on.

gelendestrasse, the sanctions are not working. They have never worked when tried around the world. The only possible exception is South Africa. Again it is the Souths war and have seen arguments that say the south provoked the north's attack. Starving a million or more people to death is not going to make us any safer. In fact it may be the provocation that starts renewed fighting.

Anyhow look at it, all of those talks for nothing. Think of the expense and the end effect is making relations even worse. Japan has tried and again unless the Republic of Korea wants good relations, it is pointless to make the effort.

Wow, Compensation for sex? duhhhh then the WW2 sex workers are still asking for money.. way to go south Korea.

Japan already paid Korea compensation for WWII. The treaty was agreed upon in 1965. The money was given to the Korean government and it was their responsibility to distribute to the people. That is not the issue here.

What the issue is, most likely, that S.Korea and Japan are going to unify the issues of military protection and cooperation while dealing with issues regarding bigoted WWII Korean liars who just want money. The previously negotiated pacts are no longer relevant after N. Korea launched their rocket, so they are each renegotiating issues and former agreements.

If given the opportunity, N.Korea will attack S.Korea with secret red Chinese backing. Japan knows S.Korea wants protection, and Japan will use it to negotiate a better pact with them. S.Korea is just calling their bluff.

Okay, the "official" reason for postponing the signing of the accord is public sentiment. The "real" reason is probably CHINA. The #1 trade partner of South Korea is China. SK's trade with China is larger than its combined trade with US and EU. You don't want to anger your number one customer! Hello, guys, THINK!

Those comfort women are victims of mass rape, if they were to be paid (compensated) that would then make them prostitutes, (paid for sexual services) would they not just prefer to be rape victims instead of prostitutes?

ExportExpert et al: This issue is not about Japan vs Korea nor is it about prostitution. It is about a government's past wrong-doing. To get past the past hurt, it is best to compensate victims and move on with a clean state.

All you have to do is apologize, teach it in your history books and get right wing politicians to shut up! If you don't like it TOUGH. That is the only way to get these people to be quiet. I know a lot of you are thinking, "Just wait till they get old and die". Right? Wrong! Ask white America about that. At least for the most part, we have tried to make amends but it is still not enough. This issue will never go away. Closing your ears, and sticking your head in the sand will not help it go away either. And for all you Japanese people who attack these poor women who suffered injustice at the hands of your forefathers, ask yourselves these things. Would you feel the same way if it happened to you or your grandmothers? Would you tell them to shut up and let it go? NO WAY AND YOU KNOW IT! So, why call these people despicable things, like liars and spounges????? You should be ashamed of yourself for having such double standards.

YURI You love to bring up about how the Okinawan women were raped in WW2. Why can't you have the same sympathy and belief in what these women say? Would you say that to your own grandmother? Would you question her honesty? You know you wouldn't so why do it to these poor women?

By the way, didn't Japan along time ago agree to further compensation once it became much richer????

ExportExpert et al: This issue is not about Japan vs Korea nor is it about prostitution. It is about a government's past wrong-doing. To get past the past hurt, it is best to compensate victims and move on with a clean state.

And thats precisely what they did in 1965. Or did you miss that? If you do me wrong, and then pay me to make it right, and then I come back a year later and ask you to pay me again... You will start to wonder, how much, and how often will I have to pay before the slate is clean? Thats what this is about. Compensation was paid more then 40 years ago. And they are still wanting more. I don't think so. Quit trying to bring up an issue that was settled so long ago.

Molenir May. 22, 2012 - 07:21AM JST. And thats precisely what they did in 1965. Or did you miss that? If you do me wrong, and then pay me to make it right, and then I come back a year later and ask you to pay me again... You will start to wonder, how much, and how often will I have to pay before the slate is clean?

In 1965, Japan asked Korea to show the concrete number of conscripted workers and soldiers, dead and injured and how much unpaid wages were. They asked to "show the evidences and they would pay". Korea agreed and investigated them. What I want to clarify here is that Korea didn't claim the compensation for the war time prostitutes. Why didn't they? It's because there was no abducted prostitute. Nobody said at the time in Korea, those prostitutes were abducted. Everyone knew there were many women who were so poor that they sold themselves to live and the Japan army didn't have to abduct Korean women. There were many Korean volunteers for Japan army at the time. Therefore Koreans didn't claim it at that time.

Another complete waste of time, a good idea for both countries, shot down by state sponsored Korean racism against Japanese.