Some hope for N. Korea-Japan talks
SEOUL: North Korea and Japan opened another round of talks for normalizing their relations in Tokyo on Tuesday. Few can expect that the two sides will make any significant progress in bringing together their parallel positions regarding the major issues on the agenda.
In view of the remarkable developments for peace on the Korean Peninsula and the conspicuous changes in Pyongyang's external policy in recent months, however, hopes are budding that a breakthrough may be found this time around.
The new round of talks follow those held in Pyongyang in April, which in turn ended an eight-year break in the dialogue between North Korea and Japan. During the past four months, there has been a dramatic progress in the inter-Korean relations surrounding the June summit, which will have certain influence on the ongoing talks in Tokyo. Both parties should seek a new role in the rapidly changing political environment on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia.
Both Japan and North Korea apparently maintain their intransigence that led to the rupture of their conversation in Pyongyang. North Koreans are adamant about their demand that, before the two countries establish full-fledged diplomatic relations, Japan must apologize and compensate for its colonization of Korea from 1910 to 1945, repatriate Korean cultural properties plundered during this period and improve the legal status of Korean residents in Japan.
Meanwhile, Japan is reiterating that the North must provide information on 10 Japanese who it allegedly kidnapped in the 1970s and guarantee that its nuclear and missile programs are not a threat. Japan calls for a package deal of all these issues.
Both countries consider these issues to be matters of national pride. This is why neither side can budge. In this context, we must say that shadows loom even darker over the talks because Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori is a noted hawk and ultra- rightist. On his part, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il is also recognized for his strong nationalism. During his recent meeting with South Korean media executives, Kim made it clear that he will "never open diplomatic relations with Japan on terms that hurt national pride."
There is no denying that North Korea will obtain benefits if ties between the two countries are improved. Japan will reportedly increase its food aid to the North to some 200,000- 300,000 tons from its original offer of 100,000 tons. The hard- line Communist regime may be able to get momentum for a speedy economic recovery by dispelling the widespread suspicion in the international society regarding its weapons of mass destruction and by opening its doors.
The possible economic gains aside, however, it is our belief that negotiators from both countries should take a more earnest and reasonable attitude in evaluating the proposed terms of negotiation from each other.
We believe Japan should soften its position toward North Korea's demand for an apology and compensation for its colonization of Korea. The breakthrough must be found in Japan's recognition of its brutal oppression of Korea and due compensation for its wrongdoing. Only then, Japan will be able to ask the North to clarify what it did to the 10 missing Japanese citizens.
Leaders in Tokyo should acknowledge the responsibility of Japanese imperialists for the suffering of not only Koreans but also people in various other Asian countries early in the 20th century. They must realize that it will be impossible to build a lasting peace in Asia without making an appropriate effort at historical reckoning. Without resolving these issues, Japan will never be able to assert its position as an economic superpower in Asia.
Watching the on-again, off-again negotiations between North Korea and Japan, we cannot but reflect upon the early 1960s when South Korea negotiated with Tokyo to normalize relations. At the time, South Korea was also a poor agrarian state under military dictatorship.
The late President Park Chung-hee and his negotiators concluded a hasty deal with Tokyo to obtain aid and loans for Korea's economic development. In the process, they failed to address many important issues left over from the colonial period.
These unresolved issues still remain as sticking points in the relations between Seoul and Tokyo. We hope that negotiators from North Korea and Japan will not repeat this mistake.
-- The Korea Herald /
Asia News Network