Abe calls for summit with South Korean leader

However, he described Seoul as “a most important neighbor with whom Japan shares fundamental values and interests”.

Which fundamental values does Japan/Abe subscribes to that validates his reasoning to belittles and whitewashes the atrocities Imperial Japanese committed against women, including South Koreans?

Which fundamental values does Japan/Abe subscribes to that validates his reasoning to belittles and whitewashes the atrocities Imperial Japanese committed against women, including South Koreans?

lol, you might have missed that Koreans and Chinese don't like each other unless they talk about imperialistic Japan.

Park has already said there will be no meeting with Japan for now when Japan keeps demanding and using politicized intimidation tactics. Why doesn't Abe get that? I looked everywhere in Korean online medias and I didn't see any story about Abe's request for meeting. I swear I can get more news on Korea that I've never even heard of, in Japanese media than the Korean ones.

lol, you might have missed that Koreans and Chinese don't like each other unless they talk about imperialistic Japan.

There is nothing "lol" about Japan/Abe's views and whitewashing of the atrocities,including the using Sex Slaves, the Imperial Japan had committed in Asia and South Korea.

Also, there is nothing specifically about China in this article or on my first post. I don't see why you need to divert from the main discussions here: which is Japan trying to rebuild its broken relationship with South Korea. And one of the main block is Japanese Government and including Abe's insulting views/opinions on the terrible things it committed against South Korea and the Korean people.

There is nothing "lol" about Japan/Abe's views and whitewashing of the atrocities,including the using Sex Slaves, the Imperial Japan had committed in Asia and South Korea.

Please, finde a single source of Abe talking about it in a language you don't understand of course (Japanese)...

Mr Abe calls Guen-hye and hopes to have a meeting with her, but old chuckers thinks he's "demanding" a meeting or using "intimidation." What a creative interpretation! Next time, let's try reading the freaking article.

If he wants to mend ties, then for starters he will need to stop visiting the Yasukuni shrine and do away with the "patriotic education" and all that nonsense.

Please, finde a single source of Abe talking about it in a language you don't understand of course (Japanese)...

Get over it, Shankun... you're just being a nationalist as usual.

kickboard, that's not what I mean, and you know it.

If Abe really wants to have a meaningful meeting with Park, then he has to show with actions, not with lips.

You told your neighbor 100 times " We should be friendly to each other..." is useless if you don't recognize those bad things you did against them and sincerely apologize.

Abe is tapping S, Korea now. S. Korea or China? Which one will be one of two Asian powers? Abe is sure Japan is no longer timid coward.

Keep your mouth shut Abe.

Park scores more political points at home by having Japan for an enemy than for a friend. Come back in a thousand years and Korea will still be blaming Japan for everything that is wrong with Korea.

It only makes SK look silly and childish if and when slapping the hand reaching out for talks.

China does not like S. Korea. By refusing to talk with Japan, Japan will go alone --- to make Japan and other Asian countries team up together. They don't need China or S/ Korea or China. Great Asian blocks. Then USA will give up S. Korea. China is not going to be friend with S. Korea. N. Korea? Need charity food from Japan. It goofed to buy out-of-dated Misile from //Cuba. Itchy to learn decent technology from Japan. This time, Japan will dominate Asia peacefully..

SamuraiBlue, what would the 'talks' achieve? At this point, it's smart move to just stay away and hope the anti-Korean feelings in Japan subside, then maybe the talks can be held later when Japan cools off.

SamuraiBlue: actually, what looks childish is pretending to 'reach out' to merely look like the good guy when you know beforehand the other party will say no,. Even more childish still when you turn around and push values and opinions that start the other party's objections going in the first place. It's like with China; Abe wants a meeting he knows Chins will snub and within the same day he moves to isolate China literally with his vows to the Philippines.

Japan angry because they weren't invited to the 60 year anniversary ceremony of the Korean War, where 24 UN countries who sent soldiers to Korea, were invited. Japanese media feels Japan was snubbed, and say the relations with South Korea will worsen.

I don't know if that was snub on purpose, but I don't see how Japan belongs to the group of 24 countries who sent aid to South Korea. Kyoto Shimbun points out that one Japanese died in extracting a mine.. but I don't see how Japan helped South Korea in the Korean War, other then make tremendous amount of profit off of the war with all those US military and civilian contracts in facilitating the war. I really don't know what Japanese media and government are thinking here, but they're taking everything as an insult when none were intended.

Abe, trying to make amends after stepping on so many people's toes. Honest, trustworthiness and integrity are important characteristics people look for in their leaders. Abe has none. So, no matter what he does or say no one is going to listen to him despite his many attempts at bribing countries to come to his side. One who sacrifices his people's livelihood on a gambled concoction of ill-timed and wrongly implemented economic and political policies can only bring more pain to a moribund economy suffering from depression pushing it into an even worse state of stagflation.

They will not be able to get past the "apology" and they won't for another 100 years.

noriyosan73, even with disagreements with apologies and history, etc etc, and other problematic tensions in the past, Japanese PM's and Korean presidents were friendly and at least they were willing to sit down and chat, while the two countries had periods of tense relations but still overall a friendly relations. What changed with Abe? Can you think of any reasons why that could be?

Smithy

In diplomacy you're required to listen to the other party's opinion and not act on any presumptions. Demanding "My way or the highway" is the most immature thing I have ever heard of in the realm of diplomacy which is both childish and irresponsible as a nation. Especially when SK is in no position to make demands. Yup predictable Korean actions that is for sure.

Actions speak louder than words.

Abe needs to make concrete steps to show his willingness to meet with Park as South Korea has less incentive to make amends with Japan.

The South Korea's economy is becoming less reliant on Japan and instead focusing on China, SE Asia, and increasing it's market share in the US and EU.

Nope Abe already made the first move. It's Park's turn to respond. If Park doesn't respond it just shows how immature she is in diplomacy.

SK rejected Japan's participation on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. What in the world makes anyone think that SK's Park wants to have a summit with Abe? She freaking hates Japan. Her father hated Japan. Heck, her entire political party hates Japan. Its no secret and its blatantly out there.

Abe can calls for summit as many as he wants but neither China or SK care or wish to listen. Just forget about this relationship. Its dead and frozen beyond hell. Japan and Abe should just move on. Its a big world out there. Make new friends.

highball7 - "She freaking hates Japan...its no secret and its blatantly out there..."

And what are you basing this on? Your imagination?

She freaking hates Japan.

Just shows how immature and childish she is. You don't bring in personal feeling into relationship between two nations. LoL

specially when SK is in no position to make demands.

I'm sorry but I have to laugh on that.

SK rejected Japan's participation on the 60th anniversary of the Korean War.

highball7, Korea invited only those countries who gave military aid to South Korea during the Korean War. Why should Japan be invited? It was kind of immature act for Japan to attend North Korea's military parade and ceremony as revenge. But unfortunately nobody cared in SK.

Two days before a summit either Ishihara or that other clown will say something stupid in public and SK will cancel any meeting... orrrrr SK will only agree to meet if Abe apologises. Again. Either way I don't think a summit will go ahead. Something or someone always cocks things up.

Which fundamental values does Japan/Abe subscribes to that validates his reasoning to belittles and whitewashes the atrocities Imperial Japanese committed against women, including South Koreans?

I'm guessing the imperialism part which undoubtedly is the fundamental relationship between the two countries in the modern period.

chucky3176

Korea invited only those countries who gave military aid to South Korea during the Korean War. Why should Japan be invited?

Maybe because it was an UN effort in which Japan was a part of at the time?

Japan's involvement in the Korean war:-

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/un-rok/jpn.htm

http://www.japanfocus.org/-Tessa-Morris_Suzuki/3803

An interesting photo of a plaque which was defaced (Japan was scratched out). 67 countries who helped the ROK during the Korean war.

http://livedoor.blogimg.jp/kaikaihanno/imgs/f/e/fedeaf40.jpg

uh... Japan as a defeated axis nation, was prevented from sending troops to South Korea. Any Japanese who was in Korea were unauthorized. Japanese who says they fought in Korea (their own stories), is no way equate to thousands of troops from US, Britain, Canada, Turkey, and even Ethiopia. You guys profited fantastically off of the bloody war in Korea, and your own PM boasted about it. That is some nerve, Japan trying to get credit for cooks and houseboys for US military camps.

In terms both of their numbers and of their military roles, then, the 120 or so Japanese who accompanied US regiments to the Korean War zone were a tiny fraction of Japan’s human commitment to the war. Most described themselves as having worked as ‘houseboys’ (a term then widely applied to adult male servants), cooks, drivers, repair workers or (in a few cases) interpreters.

Japan and South Korea do need to resolve their differences. But that isn't going to happen until South Korea decides to stop playing the "WWII Victim" like China. Korea was part of Imperial Japan from 1910 to 1945. Korean military participation in the Imperial Japanese Armed forces. 1939.... Applicants 12,348.... Accepted 613 1940.... Applicants 84,443 ....Accepted 3,060 1941.... Applicants 144,743.. Accepted 3,208 1942.... Applicants 254,273.. Accepted 4,077 1943.... Applicants 303,294.. Accepted 6,300 And these men were given a discount rate for use with the Comfort Women System. Forced recruitment for Koreans did not go into effect until 1944 when the tide of the war had already changed and the end was almost in sight.

uh... Japan as a defeated axis nation, was prevented from sending troops to South Korea. Any Japanese who was in Korea were unauthorized. Japanese who says they fought in Korea (their own stories), is no way equate to thousands of troops from US, Britain, Canada, Turkey, and even Ethiopia. You guys profited fantastically off of the bloody war in Korea, and your own PM boasted about it. That is some nerve, Japan trying to get credit for cooks and houseboys for US military camps.

This is rich coming from a nation that were not only rejected by the Axis initially but was also rejected by the Allieds after the war. And let's get this straight. The armistice that's still being honored does not involve South Korea. Check out the signatories to the said agreement.

there are reasons why your neighbors don't want to talk with you. Abe, you should think twice your politics strategy

" With President Park Geun-Hye I had a telephone conversation, we belong to the same generation, so I do sincerely hope that we'll be able to hold a summit meeting. he told reporter."

So if they are not of the same generation a summit may be difficult to eventuate. Is that what you are trying to hint at Abe?

I can see some anti-Japanese comment here. Even elementary school students know that neighbors have to corporate deeply, but people who always persist in past never known it. If ROK does not want to talk to JPN or continue to show their attitude like people who wrote mess comments here, JPN should should renounce all the economical ties, alliance, corporations, and relationship for ROK. Then they can know that ROK cannot stand by themselves unless JPN supports them.

Japan supports ROK? That's a good one. If Japan wants to renounce all ties, go right ahead, you'll only shoot yourselves on the foot.

Japan has always supported ROK since it was created. It supported ROK both overtly and covertly during the Korean War. It signed a treaty in 1965. Immense financial and technological assistance was given that aided in South Korea's economic growth. Hyundai's first cars were Mitsubishi Motors designs and parts. Their first Tanker ships were from Kawasaki Heavy Industries. All this is true history which South Korea denies, just like it's role in WII, and today carries a policy of appeasing China by pretending to be a "victim" when in fact it was an accomplice in Imperial Japan's war against China. Even today, as Korean soccer fans hold up anti-Japan banners, the Japanese market still buys Korean pop music. Just exactly what would Jap[an lose if it hypothetically cut ties with South Korea? Nothing. South Korea never has been innovative or significant enough to be "essential" to any country, be it Japan or China. Perhaps therein lies the crux of the complex?

An interesting photo of a plaque which was defaced (Japan was scratched out). 67 countries who helped the ROK during the Korean war.

Japan helped S Korea during Korean war? Actually it is the Korean war that helped Japan tremendously.

Former Japanese PM Shigeru Yoshida even called this misfortune of the Korean people "a gift from God".

By the way, it seems the Japanese are trying to use this news that they created out of nowhere - Japan, China could hold summit soon: Abe adviser (link: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/japan-china-could-hold-summit-soon-abe-adviser) as a bait to trick President Park into holding a summit with Abe. Will they be successful this time?

Guru29Jul. 30, 2013 - 02:16AM JST Japan helped S Korea during Korean war? Actually it is the Korean war that helped Japan tremendously.

Try reading these links.

OnsenJul. 29, 2013 - 12:23AM JST Japan's involvement in the Korean war:-

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/kowar/un-rok/jpn.htm

http://www.japanfocus.org/-Tessa-Morris_Suzuki/3803

pk, not my imagination but my personal experience.

Read one of her party's slogan and speeches during her election campaign on foreign relations and nation sovereignty. Park and the Koreans hate Japan's political direction. Its really blatantly out there. At least that's the feeling I got when I meet with my colleagues during my visits to Korea. When I bring my Japanese assistant with me, they told me not to mention that he's Japanese when we go out to restaurants or pubs.

Or better yet, go to Korea and visit any local Korean restaurant, pubs, or clubs and speak Japanese loudly and see what happens.