After successive announcements of the new policy towards Japan by the government and President Noh Moo Hyun, Japan’s response makes us doubtful whether Japan and its ruling group even grasp the seriousness of the situation.
Japan is expected to prevent relations between the two countries from deteriorating by taking appropriate measures to prevent future miscalculations.
However, Japan has played down the doctrine as being for domestic use and tried to ignore it, rather than taking it seriously. Yesterday President Noh again posted ‘An Open Letter To The Nation Concerning Korea-Japan Relations’ on the Cheong Wa Dae homepage.
This act shows that President Noh himself intends to send a clear message to Japan. Nevertheless, it is disappointing that Japan has still not changed its attitude and faced up to the problem.
For several years, Japan has repeatedly apologized and made conciliatory statements, but at the same time has not hesitated to take provocative actions to damage the relations between the two countries. Pending issues such as the distortion of history in Japanese textbooks, claims of dominion over Dokdo Island, and visits to Yasukuni Shrine by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi are not one-off incidents but systematic problems. President Noh proclaimed these actions as an “attempt to justify Japan’s history of aggression and occupation and realize a new hegemony.”
The majority of Korean people have the same understanding as the President.
Rather than taking an emotional and stern approach to these issues, President Noh should tackle them in a careful but proactive manner. However, Japan should be aware that behind the President’s careful approach, there is a strong will not to roll over on this issue but pursue a diplomatic row if needs be. The Japanese government and ruling group should reflect on how the situation has worsened and make a prompt response.
Our government should also expedite measures to carry out its determination. Moreover, the opposition party needs to take a supra-partisan attitude rather than invent trivial pretexts for a fight.
'일본은 더 오판하지 말라'
한겨레 2005년 3월 24일자 사설
