On The Radar: Japan and South Korea leaders meet

Last week, South Korea and Japan took an important step in resetting their – at times – tense relationship. 

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio invited South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol for an official summit over March 16 to 17 in Tokyo. While the two have met before, this was the first official summit between the two countries in 12 years. 

This made headlines, as Japan and South Korea have a difficult history: in 1910, Japan colonised South Korea and colonial rule only ended in 1945 at the end of World War II. During that time, many South Koreans were forced into hard labour, while sexual slavery in the form of ‘comfort women’ left tens of thousands of victims in its wake.  

Kishida and Yoon met as a step towards smoother relations in the long term, as well as addressing more immediate issues. High on the agenda was the issue of increasing regional tension; mainly a rise in Chinese military activity and continuing missile tests by North Korea. During their meeting, Yoon and Kishida agreed on working together more closely on security, including reinstating a bilateral security dialogue. 

Meanwhile, The Guardian reports that the US was watching the meeting closely – and indeed has been putting “sustained pressure” on Tokyo and Seoul to meet and “work together to address regional security concerns,”.

While security was high on the agenda, Yoon and Kishida also discussed lifting export curbs, returning to regular visits between leaders, and increasing cooperation around business and culture.

However, one issue in particular drew headlines even before the Yoon and Kishida met: compensation from Japan for forced labour during WWII. Ahead of the meeting, South Korean president Yoon dropped a long-standing demand that Japanese companies such as Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries pay compensation for their historic parts in using forced labour. Instead, he announced South Korea will stump up the money for a public fund to pay out the surviving victims.

The move was welcomed on the Japan side but has left Yoon in a difficult spot at home. Thousands of South Koreans protested his plan of a public fund, with one opposition politician calling it “humiliating” and a concession to Japan. Public sentiment backs this up: a recent poll showed nearly 60 percent of the population disagreed with South Korea funding compensation.

- Asia Media Centre