U.S., Japan and South Korea eye foreign ministers' meeting in May: report

Do you deny that the Korean people have survived thousands of years and have maintained their unique culture, language and identitity, despite invasions, subjugations and influence from their more powerful neighbors? This is a yes or no question.

The majority of literature produced in the Korean peninsula before the twentieth century was written in Classical Chinese. The reason for this is that the indigenous writing system, hangŭl, only developed relatively late during the fifteenth century and was not widely accepted as a means of writing intellectual discourse until the late nineteenth century.

Korean wood frame architecture was brought to Korea from the Han Dynasty. Architecture of the Koryo period, especially the wooden architecture is heavily influenced by Fujian architecture of the same period. The Han were one of the Chinese dynasties that controlled Korea.

Buddism in Korea has its roots in China. Same with Confucianism.

From the Three Kingdoms period through the Choson period Korean officials were trained with the same Confucian examination system used to train Chinese officials.

Japan had its most profound and long lasting effect on the Korean language and literacy. The Japanese built some 4000 schools in Korea and instituted a uniform language instruction using Korean characters. Grammar was changed and standardized. Literacy rose from 4% to 61% during the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea.

Korea's invaders left lasting changes to Korea. Don't fool yourself otherwise.

I hope you understand my post now.

Korea was under foreign control for centuries. They were indeed provinces of the Han and Yuan dynasties. They were part of Japan too. Korea was governed by foreign powers. The Koreans did not prevent their nation from being absorbed into the greater powers of their time. They were defeated and subjugated.

Desert TortoiseToday  12:01 pm JST

Ossan, your exact words were:

This has worked for thousands of years and kept Korea from becoming part of a greater power.

I pointed out that for thousands of years Korea has been invaded and made part of the greater powers of those eras, the Han and Yuan Dynasties, Japan, etc. Your premise does not withstand examination.

Yes those were my exact words. Nowhere did I say that Korea was never invaded or controlled by another power. Despite centuries of subjugation and decades of annexation Korea never became a Chinese Province or a Japanese Prefecture. It has never been absorbed into another country.

The Korean people, language and culture has been preserved over thousands of years by successfully not directly confronting more powerful nations that could have wiped them out.

I hope you understand my post now.

Ossan, your exact words were:

This has worked for thousands of years and kept Korea from becoming part of a greater power.

I pointed out that for thousands of years Korea has been invaded and made part of the greater powers of those eras, the Han and Yuan Dynasties, Japan, etc. Your premise does not withstand examination.

South Korea is not part of Quad Alliance to balance China.

South Korea wants reunification with North Korea. Constantly giving a pass to anything North Korea does.

South Korea can only be counted on if South Korea itself gets attacked.

Don't expect support or help from S. Korea in a conflict against China. If Japan gets attacked.

Fake meetings with USA and Japan doesn't mean S. Korea is on board, doesn't mean they will move an inch for this countries. Especially for Japan.

Desert TortoiseToday  08:08 am JST

This has worked for thousands of years and kept Korea from becoming part of a greater power.

Korea has been invaded and controlled by the Chinese Han Dynasty, the Mongols of the Yuan Dynasty, a Japanese invasion followed by a Manchu invasion that was defeated by the Qing. Korea has gone through periods of internal division among competing factions (the Several States Period leading to the Three Kingdoms). Later there were encroachments by European powers and the Russians, the latter of which provided the excuse for Japan to annex Korea in 1905. I would say your understanding of Korean history is incomplete at the very least.

I don't like to waste my time on silly forum arguments, but the Korean people, language and culture have managed to survive thousands of years by satisfactorily appeasing, rather than confronting, more powerful nations. Despite invasions and subservience the Korean people have succeeded in maintainig their unique identity. Looks to me like my post went clearly over your head.

 Could it be that for all the two way acrimony between South Korea and Japan, both remain in the US corner and for all intense and purposes they are concerned with the military rise of China and their continued territorial expansion?

As I see it average Koreans don't see China as much of a threat to them, but they revile the Japanese. I might be wrong but would be willing to bet more than beers that were a war to break out between Japan and China, the South Koreans would either remain neutral or side with China. However you also have to factor in that most Americans think the Japanese would not fight to defend themselves if China attacked. i don't know how much truth there is in that sentiment however. I think if ordnance was exploding on Japan they would fight back but it often seems like Japan is much too reluctant to make the financial sacrifices and decisions necessary to defend itself.

This has worked for thousands of years and kept Korea from becoming part of a greater power.

Korea has been invaded and controlled by the Chinese Han Dynasty, the Mongols of the Yuan Dynasty, a Japanese invasion followed by a Manchu invasion that was defeated by the Qing. Korea has gone through periods of internal division among competing factions (the Several States Period leading to the Three Kingdoms). Later there were encroachments by European powers and the Russians, the latter of which provided the excuse for Japan to annex Korea in 1905. I would say your understanding of Korean history is incomplete at the very least.

South Korea is simply practicing what it knows best, to talk out both ends if need be when squeezed between two greater powers. This has worked for thousands of years and kept Korea from becoming part of a greater power.

I am a little confused. Many posters on JT assure us that SK is in China's corner and should be classed as an enemy. Yet here they are with the US and Japan discussing regional issues and "the China problem" amongst other things. Could it be that for all the two way acrimony between South Korea and Japan, both remain in the US corner and for all intense and purposes they are concerned with the military rise of China and their continued territorial expansion?

While not exactly friendly at times, both SK and Japan know who the bad guys are and will work with the US to keep the danger at bay. China can build its economy and develop all it likes but stealing territory is the red line.

GoodlucktoyouToday  12:59 pm JST

How much does JP and SK have to pay protection money?

The U.S. Nuclear Umbrella is priceless. It keeps nations safe from countries like yours.

How much does JP and SK have to pay protection money?