South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hailed growing cooperation with Japan on issues from North Korea to semiconductors in an interview with multiple media outlets including AFP on Wednesday, saying it is part of a historic “new chapter” for both countries.
Yoon will travel to Tokyo on Thursday, his first visit since taking office in 2022.
This two-day visit follows his controversial decision to try and settle a historic dispute involving South Koreans who were victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945).
Mr. Yoon’s plan is to compensate the victims with no direct financial involvement from Tokyo, which has angered some of them.
The latter felt that this did not meet their demands for a full apology and direct compensation from the Japanese companies involved.
But Mr Yoon said he was confident his new victim compensation plan would work. “The Japanese government will join us to open a new chapter in Korea-Japan relations,” he said in the written interview.
“Japan has expressed deep regret and sincere apologies for its colonial past,” he added.
The Korean Peninsula was under Japanese colonial rule for 35 years, during which time around 780,000 Koreans were forced into forced labor, according to data from Seoul. Tens of thousands of women have been forced into prostitution in Japanese military brothels.
Mr. Yoon intends to end this historic row in order to strengthen ties with Tokyo – a key regional ally of Washington, partner with Seoul on security – in the face of growing threats from North Korea.
“collaborate”
In 2022, the North called its nuclear status “irreversible” and recently called for an “exponential” increase in weapons production, including tactical nuclear weapons.
South Korea “under no circumstances will recognize North Korea as a nuclear state,” Yoon stressed.
He also cited reports of people dying of starvation in North Korea – under a strict self-imposed lockdown since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020.
“The North Korean regime could easily solve its food shortage problems if it puts the money it spends on developing nuclear weapons and missiles into improving the living conditions of its people,” he predicted.
Both Seoul and Tokyo are increasing defense spending and each holding joint military exercises, which Yoon said are essential for regional and global stability.
“Korea and Japan increasingly need to work together at this time of polycrisis, when North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats are escalating,” Yoon said.
“We cannot afford to waste time by neglecting the strained relations between Korea and Japan. I believe that we must end the vicious cycle of mutual hostility and work together to pursue the common interests of our two countries.”
Trade Restrictions
However, the steps he has taken to get closer to Japan have been heavily criticized by South Korean activists, who have called them “insulting” victims of forced labor and contrary to certain court decisions.
A landmark 2018 ruling – alongside other South Korean rulings – ordered companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to pay compensation to Korean victims, a decision that pushed Seoul-Tokyo ties to an all-time low for years.
The following year, Japan imposed export controls on key industrial materials needed by South Korea’s chip industry, removing the country from its list of “preferred trading nations.” Seoul filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization.
The two countries now appear to be making efforts to lift each other’s trade restrictions.
In early March, South Korea announced that it was suspending its complaint to the WTO over export restrictions on certain Japanese products.
“Korea and Japan are key nations in global supply chains such as semiconductor manufacturing,” Yoon noted.
“Increased economic cooperation between Korea and Japan is likely to go a long way in strengthening global supply chains.”