Recent political relations between
Japan and the two Koreas
Aleksandra Babović
MA student at Institute of Political
Studies in Paris and IIPE member
Introduction
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Normalization:
Japan
South Korea (ROK) - Treaty on Basic Relations in
1965 motivated by economic aid (500$)
Japan
North Korea (DPRK) trade relations initiated in 1961
while unofficial political relations established in 70s
Nixon-Sato Communiqué in 1969 - “Korean clause” : “the security
of the Republic of Korea is essential to Japan’s own security”
80s – favorable to the normalization talks between Japan – DPRK,
but from 90s till today they never resumed.
Common point – unsolved historical issues from Japanese
occupation of Korean Peninsula (1910-1945)
mutual resentment
Thesis:
The current state of Japan and two Koreas recent political
relations (from the end of the Cold war): “dualistic” with
ROK and worsening with DPRK.
The near future: no likely to ameliorate - peoples’
mentalities and lack of pragmatic diplomacy
Prospective: Japan’s normalization process with DPRK
and deepening of political ties with ROK still remain a
long run goas for its diplomacy.
Japan – DPRK relations: Sad State of Play and
Sad Prospects
A.
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Normalization process: unreachable goal of two diplomacies
September 1990 - Three-Party Declaration – encouraged apology
and compensation from Japan
Shift in Japanese policy toward DPRK (ROK and US pressure) –
inspection of nuclear facilities by IAEA as pre-condition –
normalization talks postponed until the new Millennium
1994 North Korean nuclear crisis and launching of a Taepodong
missile in 1998 – friction between US-ROK-Japan
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September 2001 Pyongyang Declaration – violation
Adoption of a hard-line policy toward DPRK - abduction issue as a
top priority on government’s agenda
B. Resolving the thorny “abduction issue”
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Abductees = 13 Japanese nationals, mostly young people, who
were abducted to North Korea (1977 to 1982) in order to participate
in training of espionage agents
Kim Jong Il’s 2002 confirmation
Diplomatic efforts – 5 abductees returned in Japan BUT
unconfident information on others + pressure groups
reason
why Japan did not redraw from this question
C. Japan’s role in DPRK denuclearization within
the Six-Party Talks
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Six-Party Talks- the international forum aiming at denuclearization of
DPRK initiated in 2003
The "stop and go” negotiations - erratic posture of DPRK and
divergent approaches of parties involved
Six-Party Talks - a second place for Japan for making potential
breakthroughs on the sensitive abduction issue by pairing it up with
denuclearization process
D.
North Korea as a security threat to Japan
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Nuclear tests from 1998 - a “wake-up call” for Japan
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The US- Japan regional missile defense system
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Frequent smuggling of North Korean spy ships – introduction of
unilateral sanction in 2006 by Japan against DPRK (ships, goods,
persons, and surveillance of money transactions)
Explanation of the hard-line approach
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D.
North Korea as a security threat to Japan
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Nuclear tests from 1998 - a “wake-up call” for Japan
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The US- Japan regional missile defense system
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Frequent smuggling of North Korean spy ships – introduction of
unilateral sanction in 2006 by Japan against DPRK (ships, goods,
persons, and surveillance of money transactions)
Explanation of the hard-line approach
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E. April 2009 ballistic launch: new developments
and their impact on the future
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2009 Ballistic Launch or “communication satellite launch”, DPRK
expelled IAEA inspectors, threats to resume its nuclear program
September 2009 announcement : “ we entered the final phase of
weaponizing plutonium and we are prepared for both, dialogue and
sanctions”
A real military threat or a tactical move?
Possible shift on the agenda – abduction issue is to be topped by
denuclearization issue
Newly elected Yukio Hatoyama – continuation of a hard-line policy
2. Japan- South Korea relations
A. The future-oriented and pragmatic political relations between
Japan and ROK remain a goal difficult to achieve in the near future
Future oriented statements strained by periodical flare-up of
historical issues
 1998 Joint Statement of a New ROK-Japan Partnership toward the
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Twenty-First Century and Roh Moo Hyun – Premier Koizumi
meeting
The historical international politics or historical disputes involve the
battle for the power or to be more precise, it becomes “an arena
when power dominates”.
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Different perception of political and strategic environment of three
key regional players
impediment for building more strategic
alliance between Japan and ROK
B. Periodical flare-ups of historical and territorial issues as
a major impediment for full reconciliation of Japan-ROK ties
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The comfort women – 1992 official documents revealed the
involvement of Japanese Imperial Army
1993 Kono Statement (Government admitted its moral responsibility for comfort
women, apologized for their mental and physical sufferings, promised it would never
repeat the same mistake and teach about it to future generations ) BUT never
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admitted legal responsibility
Abe Shinzo’s 2007 denial of comfort women, controversy with
textbooks – negative impact on Korean public opinion
The problem of Asian/Women’s Fund created in 1995
The international dimension – Canada, GB, the US, the UN and the
EU Parliament passed resolutions making pressure over Japan
B. Periodical flare-ups of historical and territorial issues as
a major impediment for full reconciliation of Japan-ROK ties
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The issue of Takeshima or Dokdo – in 1905 put under Japanese
authority
1952 – Singhman Ree Line and two years later, Korean military
presence on the islands
The territorial dispute is also result of the US cold war policy
1954 and 1962 – attempt of Japan for peaceful resolving of issue
via ICJ (International Court of Justice)
Dokdo is like a volcano, ready to erupt every time a minor incident
happens
C. Could Japan and ROK be a good neighbors
despite of their history burden?
Fertile ground for establishing a good political neighbor policy
 Significant level of cultural and economic exchanges between ROK
and Japan (J-Wave and K-Wave)
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Japan is Rok’s second largest trade partner, while the latter is the
third one to Japan (2007)
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Frequent diplomatic visits on both sides
BUT “…the demons of history continue and will continue to haunt
Japan-Korea relations”
Thank you for your attention!
どうもありがとうございます