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Pompeo voiced support for Japan over wartime labor issue: sources

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Pompeo is a bully and homophobic rapture loving meddler. He should keep his nose out of this country and its affairs.

Somebody with more credibility needs to step in. Not this guy.

-11 ( +20 / -31 )

Agreed with Toasted. The US needs to stay out of this.

-11 ( +17 / -28 )

The fundamental error here is that South Korea never signed the 1952 San Francisco Treaty. SK does not have any obligation to honor whatever is agreed upon between the parties of that Treaty. Unless, of course, one denies SK as a sovereign nation. :)

-20 ( +11 / -31 )

Kono responded that the compensation issue for wartime laborers during Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula has already been resolved by the 1965 agreement to settle property claims after the war

Kono san said so himself, the 1965 Treaty only covers property claims, has nothing to do with damages claim.

-16 ( +15 / -31 )

Trump sees the influence Communist China and North Korea are having over SK, and will not accept it. 

So will allow Japan to further alienate SK, pushing it closer to China. Brilliant move.

-15 ( +11 / -26 )

They look like teenagers, look at their faces! They are allowing the US to control both of them and decide everything, so so so stupid, they are playing into Trump's tiny hands.

-11 ( +9 / -20 )

There was very informative press conference by Professor Lee Young-Chae of a Japanese college. It would be very helpful for those of you who are biased or less informed about current South Korea and Japan feud.

(Japanese, english, and Korean subtitles are provided.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8OaAEF5yw4

7 ( +11 / -4 )

There was very informative press conference by Professor Lee Young-Chae of a Japanese college. It would be very helpful for those of you who are biased or less informed about current South Korea and Japan feud.

The current feud is a result of Korea's inept leadership ripping up the 2015 agreement, not proposing anything in its place, then stoking the citizenry into a frenzy over Japan not satisfying unspecified Korean demands.

When a country rips up a good-faith agreement, puts up nothing in it's place, then complains incessantly, they are acting in bad-faith. How can anyone negotiate in good faith with them in such a case? It's a literal impossibility.

Competent leadership knows this. Korean leadership have shown they don't know this. Incompetence.

22 ( +29 / -7 )

Pompeo is a bully and homophobic rapture loving meddler. He should keep his nose out of this country and its affairs.

except both countries asked him to get involved, which he said he does not want to. Read the news more...

20 ( +23 / -3 )

Somebody should give Kono a book "Law for Dummies, Japanese edition", so he can learn about separation of powers. Apparently he and the rest of the old squad do not understand that the Legislative branch cannot interfere with the Judicial branch. But it's not surprising he would think it should. Remember when Taro Aso said they should learn from Nazi Germany on how to "quietly" push their policies. These people have no respect for separation of powers or democracy. In Japan, the LDP pretty much think of themselves as Monarchs who are entitled to the throne. Elections for them are just nuisance.

-12 ( +13 / -25 )

Could this Pompeo moment, voiced to supposedly support Japan government to rail against South Korean reluctance to accept wartime labour issues, reaffirm, to become construed politically, as opportunism or the possibility to. or for a continued means to extract discriminatory levels of financial leverage from a believed completist Japanese Government or SK Government?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

Japanese companies whose assets seized, withdraw from South Korea. Meeting by vice ministers of the two countries will not change South Korea. Statues of comfort women will not be removed and statues of forced laborers will be built more. Their demand of "apology and compensation" will continue endlessly. Stay away and keep distance to South Korea. Ignore their unreasonable demands. They use histories picking up matters only convenient for them. They are not seeing their history rightly.

14 ( +19 / -5 )

Apparently he and the rest of the old squad do not understand that the Legislative branch cannot interfere with the Judicial branch.

When your judicial branch decisions are leading your country down the path to international turmoil, it's time to figure out a different strategy.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

Just like the american pow case against japanese companies, this should have been dismissed. The korean courts overstepped their boundaries on this one...

16 ( +19 / -3 )

The United States has occupied both Japan and South Korea since the end of WWII. Both the Japanese and South Korean economies are completely dependent on shipment of the things they produce to the USA. I just can't fathom how 'IF' you understand these 'facts' you believe that the United States shoukd stay out of sonething that it has never left.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

International standard understanding is any agreements or any treaties that both countries comprehensively agreed on must not be broken whatever happens.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

Apparently he and the rest of the old squad do not understand that the Legislative branch cannot interfere with the Judicial branch. 

Yikes!! There you go opining about common sense and logical thinking. That's anathema here. Only irrational beliefs coupled with massive doses of cognitive dissonance is allowed here.

-12 ( +3 / -15 )

Are there any countries that support South Korea?

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Are there any countries that support South Korea?

North Korea only.

10 ( +14 / -4 )

Based on the Agreed Minutes to the Agreement on the Settlement of Problems Concerning

Property and Claims and on the Economic Co-operation between Japan and the Republic of Korea dated June 22, 1965 (Archived in UN Treaties 1966 pg 292)

(g) It is confirmed that problem concerning property, rights and interests of the two countries and their nationals and concerning the claims between the two countries and their nationals, which is settled completely and finally as mentioned in paragraph 1, Includes ANY CLAIM falling within the scope of the "Outline of the

Claims of the Republic of Korea against Japan" (the so-called "Eight Items"), which was submitted by the Korean side at the Japan-Republic of Korea negotiations and that, therefore, NO CONTENTION can be made with respect to the above mentioned Outline of the Claims of the Republic of Korea against Japan ;

Item 5 of "Outline of the Claims of the Republic of Korea against Japan" states,

"....amounts receivable, compensation, and OTHER RIGHTS OF CLAIM (その他の請求権) of drafted South Korean workers.”

Therefore, the agreement pretty much covers everything including frivolous lawsuits and its asinine court system that awards such claims.

Korean Constitution states under Article 6,

“Treaties duly concluded and promulgated under the Constitution and generally recognized rules of international law shall have the same force and effect of law as domestic laws of the Republic of Korea.

Status of aliens shall be guaranteed in accordance with international laws and treaties.”

So why is this asinine high court in Korea is ignoring this?

Let me guess. Make up as you go when it comes to Japan.

17 ( +22 / -5 )

SK seizing the assets of Japanese companies there based on a one-sided SK court ruling is a very aggressive and stupid move that has and will only escalate tensions. Should Japan now seize Samsung's assets in Japan? Then SK seizes other Japanese companies' assets in SK. It could just go on and on with no winners in the end and a lot of people out of work.

13 ( +16 / -3 )

"The fundamental error here is that South Korea never signed the 1952 San Francisco Treaty"

But Korea did 1965 accord and therefore, they must follow it.

15 ( +19 / -4 )

An arbitrator if that's what pompeo's role is, should not take sides. Further, just because he says so doesn't mean it's legally binding. He's not doing anything except massaging Abe to accept whatever trade demands trump brings up.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

indier99Today 06:58 am JST

The fundamental error here is that South Korea never signed the 1952 San Francisco Treaty.

No, the fundamental flaw in your statement is South Korea was never invited to participate to the 1952 San Francisco peace treaty.

Korean Peninsula was part of Japan during the war and no legitimate government, refugee/underground resistance movement or otherwise never existed during the war so ROK was never recognized as a participant of the war.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Japan needs no help from you but its nice that you acted like an ally for once... it would be nicer you give that little pos nation a slap while you are at it, thanks

3 ( +4 / -1 )

A photo of Kono's face here should appear next to the definition of "forced smile."

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

But Korea did 1965 accord and therefore, they must follow it.

Sure. And last year, the Korean Supreme Court ruled that the 1965 Treaty does not cover personal claims for indemnification. You can disagree with that decision as much as you like. But there are no international regimes that prevent victims of illegal forced labor from seeking compensation for indemnity. :)

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Pompeo is not so much a "mediator" but a representative of the "America First" camp. And right now it is only South Korea that is threatening to dismantle the US-JPN-SK alliance by not renewing GSOMIA. Japan has stated that they intend to renew. The US has been able to move on from WWII by establishing trustworthy relationships with it's former enemies in order to face new adversaries. This is not just a political and diplomatic policy but reflects on the American culture, in whose eyes the South Korean national fixation on 74 year old history appears aberant, and, put simply, makes South Korea look like a country in need of collective therapy.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Kono's face looks like Popeye, so better make easy smile.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Kano really should put his teeth back in when being photographed.

-5 ( +0 / -5 )

From the moment SK government wanted to involve the US on this problem, they admitted they as government were not able to deal with this situation that they created for themselves.

Such relation problem would be resolved if the SK government had admitted their wrongdoings committed during 2004 till 2019 where 156 cases of illegal exports to North Korea were made( things that SK minister acknowledged ).

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Moon, overturn this asinine high court ruling immediately, and relations MAY slowly improve over the next decade.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

Listen to that S. Korea

Now Korea and its supporters don't want America to be involved anymore. They don't like Pompeo anymore.

Only if America sides with S. Korea its acceptable! Otherwise stay out America! Your supposed to be on our side!

WTO you better be on S. Korea side, we are victim to WhiteList removal. One week later they break WTO Rules by removing Japan from their own Whitelist.

0 ( +4 / -4 )

@JustMyThoughts

Both the Japanese and South Korean economies are completely dependent on shipment of the things they produce to the USA.

It’s called trade.

There could be no more ideal climate for a repprochement between SK and NK and genuine reunification talks.

“There! Take that, evil Japanese!”

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Apparently he and the rest of the old squad do not understand that the Legislative branch cannot interfere with the Judicial branch. 

Yikes!! There you go opining about common sense and logical thinking. That's anathema here. Only irrational beliefs coupled with massive doses of cognitive dissonance is allowed here.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

As I expected, as soon as the US got involved, one side would leak or release information that the US agrees with its side...just getting us more deeper involved in a situation these two countries brought on themselves and should resolve between themselves. Having lived in both countries, here's how I see it...

The 1965 Treaty resolved all outstanding issues from the prior annexation period. And all prior South Korean governments from then up until the early 2000s kept their side of the agreement.

With the transition from the dictators to a democratically elected government in 1988, sK politicians learned the old trick of stoking nationalism for merely partisan reasons - most to divert from some current administration scandal.

All sK administrations did this but the Left-leaning governments were the most egregious at bringing up Dokto or the comfort women issue, and reneging on prior bilateral agreements.

The Japanese kept a fairly level head when dealing with sK over all these years but the recent reneging on the comfort women agreement (after funds were transferred) and allowing the appropriation of Japanese assets in sK were the last straw - the incident where the destroyer locked its fire control radar on the JMSDF aircraft also added to the GOJ deciding "enough is enough"...

So now we are in a situation where both countries have locked themselves into a corner and can't back down.

But one of them must - and that's why the US should stay out of this and force the leaders of both countries to act like leaders, instead of partisan politicians.

US intervention only gives them an excuse - to blame the other side and the US for siding with one over the other...

Meanwhile Kim continues to build more nukes and the Chinese continue with their "2050 plan" to exert influence over all of Asia, with other countries mere vassal states to a paternalistic, all powerful China.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

This is the first time I've had a look at the complete Pompeo....NOOOOOOOOO! This is MY Secretary of STATE? I am not one who will admit to judging by appearances and, with that said, LOOK at this guyyy!!! If I saw this guy at a gathering, I would think that he was the relative they brought out only at those 'family gatherings' and then he would go back to the group home. I cannot point to one thing but just the hologramish IMPRESSION. Expectations, I guess. The one thing about Hillary, I'll bet she created (chewed) more than a few new buttholes in people who opposed her. This man in this image I would expect an "Aw, shucks" out of at any instant. But, this is the first attention I've really paid to the man. It's the man to the RIGHT of even Pompeo standing on Pompeo's right in the pic. This man looks like Cheney, Rumsfeld, McNamara, and Tojo all cloned into one man looking for trouble to get Japan into. And, the first time I saw Kono-san, I had the same reaction as Cricky above. Bon mot! Cricky! But really, it's kind of sad that America has to get an opinion in any of these issues between Nihon and Hanguk. And I wonder if Pompeo might wander over to Seoul next and "voice support for Korea over wartime labor issue" Humans...

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Kono san said so himself, the 1965 Treaty only covers property claims, has nothing to do with damages claim.

Regardless of what this 1965 covers, after many decades has passed, do SK citizens really need this money again?

Can't SK citizens overcome their hardships that they say suffered during colonial times by their own?

If money and apology were such necessary thing, why did you reject the 1965 and 2015 agreement?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

It would be nicer you give that little pos nation a slap while you are at it, thanks

Advocacy for violent intervention is pointless and dangerous. Diplomatic measures and dialogue is the only real way forward. Just a pity that someone as reprehensible as Pompeo is involved.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

When you make an agreement, sign a contract, ratify a treaty, you are obligated to abide by what it says. You cannot just change your mind when politics change. This goes for Korea and Japan too. WWII is over. Look forward not backwards. South Korea (SK) seems to want to buddy up to North Korea (PRK) and relive the past in order to gain political points. SK has created steadily worsening friction with Japan recently. Japan has been a friend of SK for a long time now. Relation between the two countries have been very good. If SK wants to change that they should remember that Japan is its only friendly neighbor. They US is pretty annoyed at SK for souring the relationship with Japan and its actions related to NK. If SK continues on this path it is time for the US to think about pulling its military out of SK and strenthening its relationship with Japan and other pacific nations. Think about it.

0 ( +2 / -2 )

It was the SK court system that made the ruling not the sitting government. So unless Japan thinks like China where government and the courts are the same thing, there's nothing SK can do a whole lot about. But that's how democracies work. Look how the USA courts thwart Trump over and over. Separation of powers yet Pompeo would sponsor Japan? Huh? Where do they find these people?

No one can make SK and Japan talk again. It has to be real and it would have been better to stay out of it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Looks like Kono and Pompeo may have confirmed prior to the meeting what color tie to wear! (Yellow is the color people most often associate with amusement, gentleness, humor, and spontaneity, but also with duplicity, envy, jealousy, avarice, and, in the U.S., with cowardice. In Iran it has connotations of pallor/sickness, but also wisdom and connection. In China and many Asian countries, it is seen as the color of happiness, glory, harmony and wisdom).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Samit Basu

Kono san said so himself, the 1965 Treaty only covers property claims, has nothing to do with damages claim.

Your quote and your post doesn't agree, the 'only' part was not there, yet you used it as the principle of your argument.

For clarity, this is on the first paragraph of the agreement:

"Japan and the Republic of Korea, Desiring to settle the problem concerning properties of the two countries and their nationals and claims between the countries and their nationals...."

The Treaty seems rather comprehensive to me, not excluding anything, that is, properties, claims OF the people.

In any case, the SK court has made an order relating to the property of a Japanese entity.

Time for the Koreans to take politics and hotheadedness out of this IMO.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Notice that this article doesn’t even have a single quote from the person they claimed sided with them. Kono said he sided with them in a closed door meeting.

However, he recently clearly said “they are both great allies and I don’t know which side is right. I hope I can help them find a path forward. At least, I hope to bring them both to a stand still agreement.”

Kono is claiming Pompeo sided with Japan behind closed doors but is publicly not picking a side.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

I don’t know what Pompeo can accomplish. Both Kono and Kang canceled their individual meeting and group meeting with Kono after the photo session.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Fragile relationships but agree with Pompeo.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

the 1965 Treaty only covers property claims, has nothing to do with damages claim.

If the treaty does not cover all potential problems, there is no point of agreement. That is why treaty or agreement got be settled so-called "totally and irreversibly", it means no more problems in the future. All countries' agreements/treaties do same way to avoid future problems agitated by.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

If the US get involved they will have Japan at war.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

SK can do anything as they dont honor international treaties its very simple to revoke the local court rulings as govt n courtr r different bt when revoking n dismissing international treaties govt n judiciary of SK get bonded together with waterproof bond funny

2 ( +3 / -1 )

kwatt: "International standard understanding is any agreements or any treaties that both countries comprehensively agreed on must not be broken whatever happens."

Does this apply to the international nuclear agreement with Iran. And What about the nuclear arm agreement the US HAD with Russia?

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Agreed with Toasted. The US needs to stay out of this.

Its only because you disagree. US has interests in both countries. This puts it in a difficult position if it gets worse.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Theyll send you a bill later when Trump wants Japan to pay more for US forces.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

When your judicial branch decisions are leading your country down the path to international turmoil, it's time to figure out a different strategy.

What international turmoil? What "strategy"? The Korean judicial system indicted a sitting president. That to me speaks of a highly independent judiciary. When is the Japanese judiciary going to indict a single bureaucrat, let alone a sitting minister or a prime minister? The Korean courts interpret laws and legal contracts. They have ruled that the Japanese-Korean treaty does not absolve Japanese companies from legal lawsuits over unpaid compensation. The Korean victims have then proceeded to sue those companies. It's as simple as that. The Korean parliament or President have nothing to do with any of this.

You want the Korean parliament to intervene and illegally overturn a court decision just so the Japanese government can be happy? That's like Mexico threatening to impose tariffs on US if the congress doesn't intervene and tell the courts to overturn their indictment on El Chapo. Can you imagine that ever happening? Even Saudi Arabia was angrily protesting when the US courts allowed US citizens to sue Saudi Arabia for 9/11. Can you imagine US bowing down to Saudi Arabia can ordering the courts to backtrack on their ruling? That's essentially what Japan is asking from the Korean government.

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

IloveCoffeeAug. 15  09:51 pm JST

When your judicial branch decisions are leading your country down the path to international turmoil, it's time to figure out a different strategy.

What international turmoil? What "strategy"? The Korean judicial system indicted a sitting president. That to me speaks of a highly independent judiciary. When is the Japanese judiciary going to indict a single bureaucrat, let alone a sitting minister or a prime minister? The Korean courts interpret laws and legal contracts. They have ruled that the Japanese-Korean treaty does not absolve Japanese companies from legal lawsuits over unpaid compensation. The Korean victims have then proceeded to sue those companies. It's as simple as that. The Korean parliament or President have nothing to do with any of this.

It is not as simple as that. High contracting party in the treaty is a nation, government of a nation which include judiciary branch. and you have another High contracting party and its people on the other side. At least Korean top court should have suggested to proceed to arbitration as stipulated in Article 3 rather than making this unilateral decision. Domestic issues ? Hell No. Their lawyers come and push Tokyo HQ of the Japanese companies, and the assets they are about cash belong to Japanese HQ and not to its subsidiaries in SK. It is reckless Korean Judicial runaway.

Just a chief at the smallest regional court in the country without any experience even as a judge at high court level became a chief judge at supreme court , being nominated by the president suddenly, who once worked under him during Roh admin era, then nominated other judges at supreme court and came up with this verdict.

Unless all judges were nominated democratically, there would be no such thing like highly independent judiciary.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

The fundamental error here is that South Korea never signed the 1952 San Francisco Treaty. SK does not have any obligation to honor whatever is agreed upon between the parties of that Treaty. Unless, of course, one denies SK as a sovereign nation. :)

Did you even bother to read the article? This is about the 1965 Treaty between South Korea and Japan. In the treaty South Korea said give all money to government we will make the appropriate compensation to the people of South Korea. They took the 500million paid by Japan and didn't follow through with the compensation that they said they would make. You would be better to sue your own government for hiding this fact.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

The fundamental error here is that South Korea never signed the 1952 San Francisco Treaty. SK does not have any obligation to honor whatever is agreed upon between the parties of that Treaty. Unless, of course, one denies SK as a sovereign nation. :)

Those ethnic Korean posters who still struggles to protect SK in a situation like this are just pathetic.

Yes. even more pathetic than ordinary less-informed SK people

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The photo tells us much about the meeting. From left to right: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Pompeo is expressing only is own opinion and ignorance. He has no power over South Korea.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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