Warm on North, chilly to South: Japan's Korea strategy could pose risks

Lolololololololololoololololololol

Go back to "fixing" door knockers abe.

Can Abe not try and conduct meeting with both leaders? Does it have to be either or? Although with what has been going on in South Korea and the law suits and settlements all against Japanese companies, not sure what Abe could accomplish. But once Trump met with Kim, I thought if Abe doesn't reach out, he is a fool. The ice is broken, lets' see what Kim has to say.

The problem has been the Koreans inability to forget.

Comedy gold.

Reminds one of what the female Japanese comedian, the one who lived in LA in the 90s, said:

"Back in the day Japan invaded Korea, raped the women, murdered the children and enslaved the men. And they haven't forgotten. So we hate them."

There's been a spate of similar articles this week. When's the election again?

The problem has been the Koreans inability to forget.

The issues they have will never be "forgotten" and nor should you expect them to be.

America does not forget Pearl Harbor. Japan does not forget Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Tragedies need to be remembered so they never happen again. Regardless of what side your on.

If other countries expected Japan to forget Hiroshima your reply would be swift and just by informing them you will always remember and always honor the victims of Hiroshima.

Why do you expect different behavior from South Korea?

I don’t think Japan needs to “reach out” to either nationalist Moon or dictator Kim.

Why should they? The past has been resolved. The future can be bright.

The problem has been the Koreans inability to forget.

Seems like history repeating itself with right wing rhetoric taking over whenever your internal problems get too bad.

I just love how this article's tone pretends that this might be Abe's first blunder. His policies, both foreign and domestic, have been utter disasters.

Abe is the only regional leader who has not met Kim, after summits between Kim and Trump, Moon, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, and likely wants to show his domestic audience that he is not out of the diplomatic loop.

Yeah but he IS. NONE of the other regional players give 2 farts and a martini about the abduction issue which is the main point for Abe. So yeah, Abe is out of the loop. And if you are Fat Boy Kim, if you are meeting with the other leaders- US China Russia AND your nearest neighbor SK, how high on the agenda is meeting a Japanese nationalist PM? I doubt its high up on Kim's agenda.

It's interesting to note that the uyoku have not hit this thread... yet.

kurisupisuToday  07:34 am JST

It should also not be overlooked that Korean influence has been historically linked to massive advances in many areas of Japanese culture too.

Like what? Anything past the Yaoi period?

The problem has been the Koreans inability to forget.

More like people's (like yours for example) haste to forget. Willful ignorance in any area of life will always have negative effects...

@ SchopenhauerToday

I thought that in a democracy the people were supposed to control the government, not the other way around.

Like what? Anything past the Yaoi period?

Your disdain for the Koreas and over-the-top love for Japan is transparent and hilarious.

They don't have to forget but they should know what not to forget.

Why should they? The past has been resolved.

Nope. As long as Japan continues to whitewash history, this won't happen.

The future can be bright.

Yes, but Japan is unlikely to stop whitewashing history.

The problem has been the Koreans inability to forget. 

The real problem is that Japan refuses to remember.

has anybody told our dear leader that a couple of abducties came back, a few have passed away, and the rest are happily married with children and don’t want to come back to japan? Abe’s forcing them to come to japan would be paramount to kiddnapping and abduction.

good strategy. korea will stay split forever, serving as a buffer between the continental powers and Japan

South Korea should never forget, but they should move on. They are the ones responsible for the current political climate between the two countries.

Always laughable to see people quoting their own nations version of history as if it were the gold standard truth.

I wonder why in South Korea, the government is weak and cannot gain control of their people.

Goodlucktoyou

It is just a gesture.

Alfie NoakesMay 10  08:09 am JST

The problem has been the Koreans inability to forget.

Comedy gold.

Reminds one of what the female Japanese comedian, the one who lived in LA in the 90s, said:

"Back in the day Japan invaded Korea, raped the women, murdered the children and enslaved the men. And they haven't forgotten. So we hate them."

And who was that "comedian" Because that statement is a complete fabrication in every aspect. Bet you she was Korean.

Fortunately, political leaders do not represent the ordinary people.

As a visitor to Korea several times a year,I notice large numbers of air passengers from both countries filling seats to capacity.

Interactions with airport staff in Incheon is usually more efficient in English.

It should also not be overlooked that Korean influence has been historically linked to massive advances in many areas of Japanese culture too.

Alfie Noakes

Comedy gold? I’m glad you find me funny, because your way is the way of repeating war.

Lets say that Japan next week apologises once again to Korea and China too even. Apologises for the war and all the atrocities and horrible things that happened by our ancestors. Do you think Korea and China would accept it and move on?

It takes two to tango and without wading into crap, I’m certain that because Japan, Korea, and China have a lot of nationalism and right wing elements in their identity and politics, they are in a place where they are ready and mature enough to offer and accept sincerity.

I think that Abe is being used by Trump to legitimise Trump’s meetings with Kim.

PM Abe’s choice will be proven the right one. I see a very bright future of NK-Japan relations. Chairman Kim is reaching out to PM Abe, the nation is advancing rapidly and becoming strong, and will be a good economic partner of Japan going forward. Win-Win. The Summit will lay out how NK and Japan start working together.

On the other hand, I see a poor future between SK and Japan. Especially while left-wing Moon is there encouraging, and taking part in, anti-Japan rallies that destroy relations. The rulings to seize Japanese property in SK is just unforgivable.