politics

Pompeo urges Japan, S Korea to settle diplomatic row

67 Comments

The requested article has expired, and is no longer available. Any related articles, and user comments are shown below.

© KYODO

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

67 Comments

Comments have been disabled You can no longer respond to this thread.

Kono states that the US wants the to solve the issue between themselves, while Kang says the US is offering to mediate. This reflects the SK desire to draw the US into it because they know they have very little chance of regaining Japan's trust on their own. Everyone knows the Trump administration doesn't want to get involved.

14 ( +16 / -2 )

Japan has acted professionally and diplomatically.

Tell those petulant South Korean kids to do so.

Let the anti-Japan riots commence!!!

13 ( +20 / -7 )

The expressions on their faces tell the whole story.

11 ( +11 / -0 )

That would guarantee a SK-NK unification under DPRK regime and a unified Korea under that regime would be formidable both economically and militarily. 

No it wouldn't. The country would be a ruin. Why would a DPRK that has more land (much of it destroyed) and millions of resisters be more successful than the DPRK today? You think anyone is going to buy a Kim Jong Un car or smart phone, assuming they could even make those products after such as war? Anyway, the likelihood of the North winning such a war is pretty close to zero, All they can do is destroy and go out with a bang.

So far as the US and China, neither want to see Korean civil war, and neither want to see both sides united just now. Neither are to be trusted.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

If SK abandons GSOMIA, they can't get information from Japanese submarines operating in the Japan Sea. And worry about leaking information to NK through SK will be nothing. Anyway SK can do anything as they like.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

I wouldn't be surprised if S Korea boycott the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The way this is going, they will try their best to humiliate Japan the way they think they can. Not. It will be an exciting Olympics nonetheless., sans the drama that is SK.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

Dear S. Korea or people who support Korea.

Please explain to me:

What do you have to lose if you keep the 1965 aggrement and pay the force labor ruling yourself.

Is all of this worth it? Are you winning?

9 ( +10 / -1 )

@Heckleberry

That's why it's going to be a fun Olympics, because SK won't be there. Who needs negativity and hatred on sporting events that promote friendship and camaraderie? SK, it seems, is incapable of doing that. They can use all and every threats, etc as reasons to boycott. I for one, would welcome the idea of them not in the Olympics. Less drama, less complaint, less hatred, less childlike attitude. I'm sure Japan wont worry about what their absence can do to the Olympics. They are sold out, the tickets!

8 ( +10 / -2 )

South Korea allowed it's courts to violate the 1965 Treaty. Then violates the Arbitration clause. A cowardly country capable only of irrational hate and emotional dysfunction.

"In January 2005, the South Korean government disclosed 1,200 pages of diplomatic documents that recorded the proceeding of the treaty. The documents, kept secret for 40 years, recorded that the Japanese government actually proposed to the South Korean government to directly compensate individual victims but it was the South Korean government which insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and then received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims.[10][11][12]

The South Korean government demanded a total of 364 million dollars in compensation for the 1.03 million Koreans conscripted into the workforce and the military during the colonial period,[13] at a rate of 200 dollars per survivor, 1,650 dollars per death and 2,000 dollars per injured person.[14] 

South Korea agreed to demand no further compensation, either at the government or individual level, after receiving $800 million in grants and soft loans from Japan as compensation for it's 1910-45 colonial rule in the treaty.

Most of the funds from grants were used for economic development,[15] particularly on establishing social infrastructures, founding POSCO, building Gyeongbu Expressway and the Soyang Dam with the technology transfer from Japanese companies.[16] Records also show 300,000 won per death was used to compensate victims of forced labor between 1975 and 1977.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty_on_Basic_Relations_between_Japan_and_the_Republic_of_Korea

8 ( +11 / -3 )

deja vu

7 ( +9 / -2 )

This reflects the SK desire to draw the US into it because they know they have very little chance of regaining Japan's trust on their own.

A third party mediation seems to be the prudent way to go.

It doesn't have to be the US though. I don't see anyone else doing it however.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

You can tell by their faces that Kyung-wha is royally ticked off that the US didn't just arbitrarily take Korea's side and Kono is afraid to get any closer to her...

7 ( +9 / -2 )

SJToday  11:33 am JST

@OssanAmerica Today 10:39 am JST 

It was Japan that vehemently opposed to the use of money for the victims.

""In January 2005, the South Korean government disclosed 1,200 pages of diplomatic documents that recorded the proceeding of the treaty. The documents, kept secret for 40 years, recorded that the Japanese government actually proposed to the South Korean government to directly compensate individual victims but it was the South Korean government which insisted that it would handle individual compensation to its citizens and then received the whole amount of grants on behalf of the victims"

Is outright lying some sort of national trait?

7 ( +7 / -0 )

The South Korean government took the money from Japan that was supposed to go to the victims.

"A group of 1,103 former forced laborers and their families said it had filed a lawsuit demanding the South Korean government provide 100 million won ($88,500) to each of them in compensation because it had received funds from Japan."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-forcedlabour-southkorea/thousand-koreans-sue-government-over-wartime-labor-at-japan-firms-idUSKCN1OJ0F7

7 ( +7 / -0 )

"This has nothing to do with 1965 money, the the money Japanese companies owe today is damages for the illegal and criminal conscription of Koreans during wartime."

an agreement is an agreement, learn how to honor an agreement before talking about trust.

"No, Korea will just cut off Japan from its radar feed so Japan can't see incoming missiles, until it's only seconds away from landing on Japan."

nope, Aegis system can see it pretty far away. Now given Japan more reasons to build more Aegis destroyers and Ashore systems. Then, another reason for SK to complain about, Japan rearming lol.

"The damages compensation is not covered by the 1965 treaty."

nope, a treaty for all war reparations and to normalize the relationship means it covers all.

" Nowhere on the treaty says "individuals who suffered". To the contrary, Japan claimed there were no sufferings by Koreans since Imperial Japan was a benevolent ruler. This is why Japan refused Korean proposal to include the word "damages" in the treaty text."

Hey i'm not pointing a gun at you, you agree to the treaty, so honor it.

7 ( +7 / -0 )

A very interesting picture. Uncle Sam, someone with no blood relationship, is cajoling two feuding ethnic cousins to come to terms, both of whom he needs most to confront his archrival abroad.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

the war ended in the 1940s why is Korea complaining about it in 2019? In the end Korea needs Japan much more so the winner is obvious

6 ( +10 / -4 )

This is ludicrous!

It's like... SK shot themselves in the foot on purpose, then complained about being hurt... I'm sorry, but what? You're out of your frigging mind!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

SJToday  12:05 pm JST

I'm feeling too lazy to run to the UN today, so I'll just use yours.

Article II

1 The High Contracting Parties confirm that the problems concerning property, rights, and interests of the two High Contracting Parties and their peoples (including juridical persons) and the claims between the High Contracting Parties and between their peoples, including those stipulated in Article IV(a) of the Peace Treaty with Japan signed at the city of San Francisco on September 8, 1951, have been settled completely and finally.

3 As a condition to comply with the provisions of paragraph 2 above, no claims shall be made with respect to the measures relating to the property, rights, and interests of either High Contracting Party and its people which were brought under the control of the other High Contracting Party on the date of the signing of the present Agreement, or to all the claims of either High Contracting Party and its people arising from the causes which occurred prior to that date.

Checkmate.

6 ( +6 / -0 )

This sounds like a job for Patrick Jane, the Mentalist.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

bs...boring drama

5 ( +5 / -0 )

the war ended in the 1940s why is Korea complaining about it in 2019?

Because apparently they never saw 'Frozen'

Let it go, let it go...

5 ( +10 / -5 )

@Stranger - If you toe the Japanese govt line while drinking shots of Kool-sake, then yeah.

Well to be honest, I think that's just the stated Japanese reason.

I think they're really just sick of Korea whining for the past four years after they ripped up the "final and irreversible" agreement.

We had a discussion in our company yesterday. A difficult client had asked us to do a project, which we had refused. They came back to us, offering six additional projects if we took this one. In the end, we passed it up anyways, because we didn't want to tie our our resources with seven projects with a difficult client.

Korea negotiated in bad faith, and has produced nothing as a replacement. In my analogy, Korea has made itself into the difficult client. Too much hassles for the limited benefit.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

Korea will just cut off Japan from its radar feed so Japan can't see incoming missiles, until it's only seconds away from landing on Japan.

haha Japan has more technological know-how (and class) than Korea could even dream of. Japan needs nothing from Korea. Nothing.

5 ( +7 / -2 )

I believe it is fate that will lead Korea to be the enemy of Japan. The Korean hatred of Japan will not be apeased without the shedding of blood. They hang on to their hatred of Japan so long after the colonization period. They bring up events more than 400 years in the past.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

The expressions on their faces tell the whole story.

Pictures like these are used to manipulate public opinion. It is easy to take a picture to give any impression the photographer wants - even if that impression is the opposite of the truth. One should not rely on pictures like this for anything.

Most likely they are all focusing on where they have to stand for the photo, and little else, at that moment. There are plenty of photos with these people all smiling together if you search for them.

Please think twice before believing any photograph like this. They are highly manipulative.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

@Heckleberry

Here in the US, when all things fail, many use racism as a point of argument. Very much like what I said earlier, when all things fail, Korea uses the WW2 as a point of argument. I wouldn't call that hatred towards SK, I'd call it what it is. Maybe a frustration too. I dont burn flag, go to the street, spread propaganda, boycott products etc like SK do. That's hatred IN ACTION.

What I am pretty sure is SK will take further action, including boycotting the Olympics because they demonstrated over and over again what they can do to demonstrate their sentiments. It's a very on point prediction. And I bet you it will be in the SK news in the next few days. They'd be proud of it too. And it is not sarcasm by the way. Based on their actions so far, they're going that direction.

Are these statements vile and dripping with racism? Only the one that are vile Nd dripping with racism would see it that way.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

The SK lawsuits over forced labor have everything to do with the money Japan paid in the 1965 Treaty since some of it was to go to "individuals who suffered". Of course the SK government did not give that money to the victims, it used it for infrastructure projects and helping Pohang Steel.

"A group of 1,103 former forced laborers and their families said it had filed a lawsuit demanding the South Korean government provide 100 million won ($88,500) to each of them in compensation because it had received funds from Japan."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-forcedlabour-southkorea/thousand-koreans-sue-government-over-wartime-labor-at-japan-firms-idUSKCN1OJ0F7

If the SK lawsuits against Japanese firms really had nothing to do with the 1965 Treaty, South Korea would have had no reason to refuse to abide by the arbitration clause.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

@Stranger - Like Japan choosing to hurt their own export business to hurt Korea more?

The difference being that in the example you give, Japan is protecting it's national security issues. In the example I gave, Korea is whining about the mess they created through inept leadership.

So no, not like that.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

The past should not be forgotten. We should all learn from the past. But we should not live in the past. We should not blame the present for the past. We should live the present and work for the future. We should not burn ourselves because we are upset..... and know that cooperation is a two way street and can’t just take and not give.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

しかし、日韓請求権・経済協力協定により、一方の締約国の国民の請求権に基づく請求に応ずるべき他方の締約国及びその国民の法律上の義務が消滅し、その結果、救済は拒否されます。つまり、こうした請求権は権利としては消滅させられてはいないものの、救済されることはないものとなりました。

If you want to quote someone, you should note the parts that don't go so well for you.

Thus, in the official receipt, the money was paid for free of charge or economic development, not for compensation, which acknowledges wrongdoing.

So, ultimately, you were unable to get them to acknowledge wrongdoing, so you settled for a formulation where you just took the money and called the thing settled. That's the end.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Pompeo the neo-con representative for the arms industry/Wall Street (and other global financiers)/big oil is the wrong person for this job, especially while serving a president with limited (at best) understanding of international affairs - as well as domestic. The only thing that might be considered positive about Trump's reign is he's more interested in playing golf (on the taxpayers' dollars while his resorts profit from his games), holding pep rallies (on the taxpayers' dollars while his 'campaign' gets more money for him to skim from) and tweeting than dealing with real issues. These activities keep him from mucking things up even more.

3 ( +8 / -5 )

@Heckleberry "but SK is not NK so they wont boycott"

Indeed SK is not NK. But boycott they will, driven by their hatred and the need to retaliate to what they believe was a humiliation Japan inflicted on them. Just look at the SK news articles, it is full if them. But look no further, just read your own posts and see what's to come next. It is predictable really.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

how could korea even think they are on the same level as japan? they are far far below. what does korea even make that japan needs?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

Great photo. The US needs to be actively engaged in Asia, otherwise the region is going to unravel and blow up.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

what will korea do to retaliate? raise kimuchi prices??

2 ( +7 / -5 )

The USA representative looks like a big brother and taking a very condescending attitude.

In most Far East Asian peoples view, thats the role of the Western powers, since they have bases in their countries and have had a history in shaping the politics of the region, due to misdeeds of their (the Far East Asian countries) current and former leadership. Im sure this will be deleted but its true.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Didn’t President Park take all the Japanese money, $500 million (?) and put it into South Korean economy in 1965 instead of helping the South Koreans who were actually hurt in the colonial period? If so, that needs to be brought up again. All I know is I want good will and cooperation in these parts.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

@Heckleberry

Sorry to disappoint being the one that predicted a Korean war last year. I was in Seoul twice last year, one for a full week vacation and the other for a 2day stopover/quick vacay. I won't go their if I feel it was going to war. Would you?

1 ( +3 / -2 )

You know what would be fun.

What if North Korea has several participants in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while South Korea boycotts and has zero? That may anger more than a few people in Seoul, wouldn't it? Even worse would be if N.K. won a medal or two and S.K. didn't.

That would create some interesting stories I would think?

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Acting like children.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The nerve they have to tell other nations to settle their disputes while they start a new dispute almost daily. Just two days ago they worsened their own dispute with China by putting additional tariffs starting next month

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Unfortunately for any strained relationships to mend there has to be a will to make things better first. Right now both sides are going in the complete opposite direction. At least Pomp asked nicely!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Ha ha, are these adults? Seems they won't even look at each other.

politics has obviously degraded to primary school level.

-1 ( +9 / -10 )

That's why it's going to be a fun Olympics, because SK won't be there. Who needs negativity and hatred on sporting events that promote friendship and camaraderie? SK, it seems, is incapable of doing that. They can use all and every threats, etc as reasons to boycott. I for one, would welcome the idea of them not in the Olympics. Less drama, less complaint, less hatred, less childlike attitude. I'm sure Japan wont worry about what their absence can do to the Olympics. They are sold out, the tickets!

@Princess - Do you see the irony of accusing SK of hatred, when your own post is dripping of palpable hatred and vile racism?

You seem to be pretty sure that SK will boycott the Olympics. Truth is you don't know that. Were you one of the JT posters convinced there'd be a Korean war last year?

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

That is not a flattering picture of Kono. My 8 year old has the same body language when he doesn’t get along with his sister.

I was thinking the same thing...)

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

JeffLee

Great photo. The US needs to be actively engaged in Asia, otherwise the region is going to unravel and blow up.

I say Trump withdraw all US troops out of the Korean peninsula and Japan and let them work out their differences.

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

That is not a flattering picture of Kono. My 8 year old has the same body language when he doesn’t get along with his sister.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

how could korea even think they are on the same level as japan? they are far far below. what does korea even make that japan needs?

@Bong - That is a rather narrow minded and simplistic thinking, to only consider exports of finished consumer goods in your reasoning.

If you're asking how SK can hurt Japan in response of Japan's actions clearly designed to hurt Korea, there are tonnes of ways. SK has a huge trade deficit vs Japan, and they can systematically reduce any reliance on Japan over time, reducing or even overturning the trade deficit. SK citizens can boycott travel to Japan and purchasing of Japanese goods, which they are already doing. SK can also raise issues with dangers of radiation for any visitors to Japan in the lead up to the Olympics.

In Shimane, about 20 percent of all foreigners who stayed in the prefecture last year were from South Korea. "If this situation continues, we will suffer serious damage in the summer holiday season," said an official of Shimane Prefecture.

https://japantoday.com/category/national/s.-korean-cities-suspend-exchange-programs-with-japan-amid-tensions

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

The picture looks like that time in elementary school, when the class learns to "square dance" or possibly the first junior high school dance of the year?

Where the teacher has to pair up the members of the opposite sex to interact.

However the students show their distain to join such events.

But yeah, that's in elementary and junior high school. You know, 10 - 13 year olds.

Unfortunately we are not dealing with adolescent issues. We are dealing with real life, real country, real world problems here.

Hey Japan and South Korea! Wake up! Cut the crap and get over old ish.

Think about the future and how much more positive effects can result in combining efforts instead of opposing each other with 60 year old problems. You're just wasting valuable time right now.

-4 ( +0 / -4 )

Pompeo the neo-con representative for the arms industry/Wall Street (and other globalfinanciers)/big oil is the wrong person for this job,

A third party mediation seems to be the prudent way to go.

It doesn't have to be the US though. I don't see anyone else doing it however.

And I suppose Xi or Putin would be a better choice?

I say Trump withdraw all US troops out of the Korean peninsula and Japan and let them work out their differences.

That would guarantee a SK-NK unification under DPRK regime and a unified Korea under that regime would be formidable both economically and militarily. I don't think Japan (or the U.S.) would want to deal with THAT Korea.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@OssanJapan

The SK lawsuits over forced labor have everything to do with the money Japan paid in the 1965 Treaty since some of it was to go to "individuals who suffered".

Nowhere on the treaty says "individuals who suffered". To the contrary, Japan claimed there were no sufferings by Koreans since Imperial Japan was a benevolent ruler. This is why Japan refused Korean proposal to include the word "damages" in the treaty text.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

The difference being that in the example you give, Japan is protecting it's national security issues.

@Stranger - If you toe the Japanese govt line while drinking shots of Kool-sake, then yeah.

SK is such a national security risk to Japan, the two countries still maintain a militart pact and technically remain allies.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@OssanAmerica

The expert you cited is not a treaty, but can be considered as a reference in court ruling. But important and critical is the final product, the written and signed treaty. Japan has never acknowledged any wrong doing in S. Korea, and that is why the term like 'compensation' never mentioned in the treaty.

I cite the 1965 treaty for you.

Article I

1 Japan shall supply the Republic of Korea with:

(a) Products of Japan and the services of Japanese people, free of charge, the total value of which will be so much in yen as shall be equivalent to three hundred million United States dollars ($300,000,000), at present computed at one hundred and eight billion yen (\108,000,000,000), within a period of ten years of the date on which the present Agreement enters into force. The supply of products and services each year shall be limited to so much in yen as shall be equivalent to thirty million United States dollars ($30,000,000), at present computed at ten billion eight hundred million yen (\10,800,000,000); when the supply of any one year falls short of this amount, the remainder shall be added to the amount for the next and subsequent years. However, the maximum amount supplied for any one year may be increased by agreement between the Governments of the High Contracting Parties.

(b) Long-term and low-interest loans up to so much in yen as shall be equivalent to two hundred million United States dollars ($200,000,000), at present computed at seventy-two billion yen (\72,000,000,000), which are requested by the Government of the Republic of Korea and which will be covered by procuring the products of Japan and the services of Japanese people necessary for implementing the enterprises to be decided upon in accordance with arrangements to be concluded under paragraph 3 within a period of ten years of the date on which the present Agreement enters into force. These loans shall be extended by the Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund of Japan, and the Government of Japan shall take the necessary measures to enable the Fund to secure the funds for equal annual loans. The aforesaid supply and loans must serve the economic development of the Republic of Korea.

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Agreement_Between_Japan_and_the_Republic_of_Korea_Concerning_the_Settlement_of_Problems_in_Regard_to_Property_and_Claims_and_Economic_Cooperation

Even the pro-Japanese dictator, Park, abided by the treaty. Based on the signed treaty, the money was used for economic development, not for compensation.

-5 ( +2 / -7 )

@Dango bong

haha Japan has more technological know-how (and class) than Korea could even dream of.

So you don't know anything about the true state of Japanese military and defense sector in 2019.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

The Japanese government says they ended it twice, but I suspect their claim. They certainly realized in 1965 that their first attempt of ending it was failed. Now they seem to think their second attempt was successful. But, are they really eligible for ending it? The Japanese high court or the supreme court of Japan may make a ruling on it.

-6 ( +0 / -6 )

@OssanAmerica Today 10:39 am JST

South Korea allowed it's courts to violate the 1965 Treaty. 

You are naive and so well brainwashed by the Japanese government and media. The S. Korean supreme court consider all relevant international treaties so that the ruling will not violate any international treaty.

I am sure you even did not read the 1965 treaty. Read the treaty, and find any clause containing the word like 'compensation'. It was Japan that vehemently opposed to the use of money for the victims. Japan gave it for 'free of charge' or 'economic cooperation'. Read again the treaty.

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

All kinds of legal issues regarding the forced wartime labor arose because the Japanese government wanted to compensate for the victims, but without acknowledging any wrongdoing. Thus, in the official receipt, the money was paid for free of charge or economic development, not for compensation, which acknowledges wrongdoing.

This point has been brought up several times over many years. Japanese, for some reason I cant understand, have a hard time ever admitting any kind of wrong doing or apologizing. They will expect any non-Japanese to weep and admit guilt, plead gomenasai over and over, but even with overwhelming evidence of wrong doing, but they seem to have a cultural disdain for apologizing to any outsider for wrongs they have done. The compensation is always just some token fake response, they later laugh about. I can understand the Koreans disgust with anything less than a formal apology from the Emperor.

-7 ( +1 / -8 )

@Kazuaki Shimazaki

That's the end.

Technically there are an unlimited number of ends. Which end do you mean?

I am sure you can read the following in Japanese:

日韓請求権・経済協力協定そのものが、この協定でいうところの個人の財産や請求権を消滅させたわけではありません。

https://www.taro.org/2018/11/%E6%97%A5%E9%9F%93%E8%AB%8B%E6%B1%82%E6%A8%A9%E3%83%BB%E7%B5%8C%E6%B8%88%E5%8D%94%E5%8A%9B%E5%8D%94%E5%AE%9A.php

The phrase "消滅させたわけではありません" is certainly not your end, because Japan ended it again because Japan did not think it was actually ended.

To end it, Japan did the following:

この協定を実施するために、日本では「財産及び請求権に関する問題の解決並びに経済協力に関する日本国と大韓民国との間の協定第二条の実施に伴う大韓民国等の財産権に対する措置に関する法律」という国内法を制定し、この法律によって、法律上の根拠に基づき財産的価値が認められる全ての実体的権利、つまり財産、権利及び利益を消滅させました。

https://www.taro.org/2018/11/%E6%97%A5%E9%9F%93%E8%AB%8B%E6%B1%82%E6%A8%A9%E3%83%BB%E7%B5%8C%E6%B8%88%E5%8D%94%E5%8A%9B%E5%8D%94%E5%AE%9A.php

The phrase "消滅させました" means Japan ended it again.

I am not quite sure whether it was really ended in Japan, but it was never ended in S. Korea. And again, it is a domestic issue of S. Korea, and Japan has no right to meddle in it. Of course, whether it was really ended after ending it twice in Japan is a domestic issue of Japan, which S. Korea can not meddle in.

-7 ( +0 / -7 )

Very much like what I said earlier, when all things fail, Korea uses the WW2 as a point of argument. I wouldn't call that hatred towards SK, I'd call it what it is. Maybe a frustration too. I dont burn flag, go to the street, spread propaganda, boycott products etc like SK do. That's hatred IN ACTION.

True, and Im no fan of South Korea, its a nice place to visit, seems a bit less racist than Japan, but I wouldnt want to live there. Same mentality towards foreigners Im sure as Japan, maybe worse if you live there long term. Japan isnt a victim in all this, however. They have always had reminded Korea of who was their master before.

-8 ( +0 / -8 )

@OssanAmerica

The South Korean government took the money from Japan that was supposed to go to the victims.

All kinds of legal issues regarding the forced wartime labor arose because the Japanese government wanted to compensate for the victims, but without acknowledging any wrongdoing. Thus, in the official receipt, the money was paid for free of charge or economic development, not for compensation, which acknowledges wrongdoing. The released documents in 2005 shows that, behind contract, the compensation for legitimate actions of Japan and its companies were reflected and included in the money. Thus, S. Korean government under president Roh and the supreme courts accepted it, although it was explicitly stated in the signed 1965 treaty. Thus, the Roh administration gave money to the victims based on moral obligation, not on legal obligation. But, legally, the money was never paid to the victims, and this issue was finally addressed in the 2012 ruling of the S. Korean supreme court: Japanese companies should pay for compensation damage caused by illegal actions.

The bottom line is this is domestic judiciary issue of S. Korea, and the Japanese government should not meddle in. Even Kono Taro acknowledges it:

この協定を実施するために、日本では「財産及び請求権に関する問題の解決並びに経済協力に関する日本国と大韓民国との間の協定第二条の実施に伴う大韓民国等の財産権に対する措置に関する法律」という国内法を制定し、この法律によって、法律上の根拠に基づき財産的価値が認められる全ての実体的権利、つまり財産、権利及び利益を消滅させました。

https://www.taro.org/2018/11/%E6%97%A5%E9%9F%93%E8%AB%8B%E6%B1%82%E6%A8%A9%E3%83%BB%E7%B5%8C%E6%B8%88%E5%8D%94%E5%8A%9B%E5%8D%94%E5%AE%9A.php

The mentioning of the 1965 treaty by Abe is just for his political purpose. Abe and Kono know very well that the 1965 treaty does not invalidate the individual rights of claim acknowledged by the 2018 S. Korea supreme court ruling, but brainwashed Japaneses like you know differently.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

@AlexBecu

What do you have to lose if you keep the 1965 aggrement and pay the force labor ruling yourself.

The damages compensation is not covered by the 1965 treaty.

Very simple, really.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

It's too late. The US had its chances and Korea is already in a state of economic war.

Pompeo should have been more forceful with Abe, because strength is the only language Abe understands and Moon knows this.

@GyGene

Didn’t President Park take all the Japanese money, $500 million (?) and put it into South Korean economy in 1965.

Yes, he took the money for backwages, bank savings, and properties left behind Japan.

This has nothing to do with 1965 money, the the money Japanese companies owe today is damages for the illegal and criminal conscription of Koreans during wartime.

@Dango Bong

what will korea do to retaliate? raise kimuchi prices??

No, Korea will just cut off Japan from its radar feed so Japan can't see incoming missiles, until it's only seconds away from landing on Japan.

-12 ( +2 / -14 )

Let the anti-Japan riots commence!!!

@old man - you keep posting this in various threads, but since when was there anti-Japan riots in Korea? Unless you are confused between the difference between a protest and a riot?

I wouldn't be surprised if S Korea boycott the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The way this is going, they will try their best to humiliate Japan the way they think they can. Not. It will be an exciting Olympics nonetheless.

@princess - SK will probably threaten to boycott, expose the truths about harmful radiation levels, the mismanagement of radioactive waste, growing Fukushima crops right next to bags of radioactive waste ( http://www.asyura2.com/16/genpatu46/msg/789.html ), and efforts to feed them to visiting athletes ( https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2018/07/15/national/fukushima-high-hopes-certified-farm-produce-ahead-2020-games/#.XUTAt-gzZPY ).

But this is SK not NK, and I can't see them actually boycotting the Olympics.

-14 ( +4 / -18 )

Articles, Offers & Useful Resources

A mix of what's trending on our other sites