History Lies Between

Two foreign ministered must have agreed on existence of difficulty. Foreign Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida, and Foreign and Trade Minister of South Korea, Yun Byung-se, had a meeting for the first time since Shinzo Abe administration started last December, taking the opportunity of foreign minister meeting of Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, on Monday. While they shared a view on the importance for improving the bilateral relationship, the interpretation of history was lying between them. They could not confirm whether those two countries were having a talk between top leaders.

It was Yun who showed frustration. Answering Kishida’s remark of upholding progress of Japan-South Korea relationship as neighbors with shared basic values, Yun introduced the history issue requesting Japanese government and leaders to make effort sfor stable progress of the bilateral relationship. “History is soul. Unless history issue is carefully dealt with, it hurts soul of the nation,” told Yun.

Yun also put a domestic issue in Japan on the table in an unusual way. “I have a concern,” said Yun, “about the situation in Japan that right-wing demonstration against South Korea is going excessive beyond freedom of speech.” His remark may be doubted as a kind of intervention in the internal affairs in Japan. Yun needed to realize the consecutive demonstration and denouncement of South Korean protesters over comfort woman issue also harmed Japan’s soul.

Kishida explained that Abe administration was holding the same recognition as the Murayama Statement, which acknowledged Japan’s colonial rule and aggression in wartime. That was a reflection of regrets that visit of Yasukuni Shrine by ministers of Abe cabinet this spring harmed the bilateral relationship. On hate speech in Japan, Kishida explained that the rule of law was working in Japan and the government of Japan was keeping on maintaining legislative order.

Both ministers apparently reflected the opinions in their home nation. Yun had a mission to say something against Abe’s unilateral attitude to review the post-war history. That was a common requirement among Korean society. Kishida simply wanted to have a fact that Japanese foreign minister could meet with South Korean counterpart. He must have believed that it would persuade people in Japan as if diplomacy was working.

However, it is not easy to resume normal relationship. As long as Abe administration is stable with firm support for his economic policy, it is unlikely for Abe to take an adventure in diplomacy. After the election of the House of Councillors, in which Abe’s LDP is expected to make a victory, he will have a good reason to promote his own agenda, including reinterpretation of history.