President of S. Korea, Moon Jae-in, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, are requested to hold a summit to reconcile both countries amid the wartime incidents during Japan's invasion over the Korean Peninsula in WWII era. (Image via ABC)

Japanese and S. Korean lawmakers call for détente

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Politics & Economic
International
Nov 02, 2019
2405
On Friday, Japanese and South Korean (S. Korea) lawmakers, both agreed that both countries need to hold a summit to mend their bilateral relations, a call for the Prime Minister of Japan, Shinzo Abe, and President of S. Korea, Moon Jae-in.

Meeting with the S. Korean parliamentarians at the Diet building, Tokyo, cross-party groups of two countries consisting of Japanese lawmakers, headed by Fukushiro Nukaga, and his S. Korean lawmakers, headed by Kang Chang Il, both agreed that they gathered together to promote cooperation, not conflict.

Nukaga pointed out that correct choices have to be made for top-down resolutions between the two conflicting countries. Kang also supported Nukaga’s statement, adding that the tension spread to economic and security sectors. The S. Korean lawmaker agreed that the dialogue must continue to break the stalemate.

In a joint statement, the lawmakers of both countries agreed to form a special committee for dialogue ahead of the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics in Japan.

The meeting came a week after the Prime Minister of S. Korea, Lee Nak-yeon, visited Japan to attend the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito. Meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Abe and Lee both displayed their wills to repair the bilateral ties between the two countries. During the 20-minute meeting, Lee also delivered a letter to Abe from Moon that emphasized the fact that Japan is an important partner for S. Korea in the economic and security sectors.

Japan and S. Korea saw their bilateral relations deteriorated to its lowest point in years after bringing up the wartime incidents during Japan’s invasion over the Korean Peninsula in 1910 – 1945. In 2018, the Supreme Court of S. Korea demanded the Japanese companies to compensate for wartime labor which Japan claimed had been settled in the 1965 agreement at US$500 million to Seoul.

The relations dived deeper when both countries erased both names from each other’s “whitelist”. Japan imposed export curb for important chemicals on S. Korea.

In retaliation, S. Korea stated in August that it would not extend the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), a Japan – S. Korea military agreement pact that helps Japan to counter any projectile from North Korea (N. Korea). GSOMIA is going to expire by the end of November.

Source: https://bit.ly/2C7cZcB