Japan-S Korea summit plans still under cloud

Politics Aug. 23, 2012 - 06:00AM JST ( 21 )

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21 Comments

1

chucky3176Aug. 23, 2012 - 08:32AM JST

Boy Japan media is really pouring this on, isn't it?
0

UtrackAug. 23, 2012 - 09:00AM JST

Yup, they have not stopped since the President of ROK went to visit his isles. J Govt only hollered a little at the Russian PM when he went to visit his isles compared to this.
-2

kwattAug. 23, 2012 - 09:38AM JST

Cloud would never be clear for the two countries, so they would need ICJ as they are joined in the UN.
2

mikihouseAug. 23, 2012 - 10:01AM JST

When Lee visited the island, it was just a small news and almost nobody cared...then Lee announced that he is going to trample the emperor to the ground, step on his head until he ask forgiveness to the Korean people in live TV then he backtracked but the video has been out, with the exact words. The one shown on TV was mild, he was just saying that if the emperor wishes to visit Korea he must offer an apology...the whole tape was distrubing.

Then the Japanese people attitude changed. Nobody uses the emperor for politics...it has been a rule. Lee just did that and he think he is now a hero becoming the first president to set foot on the disputed islands and the first to ridicule, insult and threaten the Japanese emperor who has nothing to do with the war 75 years ago.

I don't remember anybody threatening the Queen of England because for some decades ago the British army came and subdued and enslaved China, India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Burma, among many countries.
3

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 10:37AM JST

Lee has single handedly gone too far and destroyed South Korea-Japan relations that have been built over he last 70 years. Lee has at he same time destroyed US east asiam strategic interests. And what did he solve? Guy is a moron.
0

Thomas AndersonAug. 23, 2012 - 11:25AM JST

Lee has single handedly gone too far and destroyed South Korea-Japan relations that have been built over he last 70 years. Lee has at he same time destroyed US east asiam strategic interests. And what did he solve? Guy is a moron.

No, he merely responded to the Korean population's general outrage when Japan decided to print on their school text books stating that the Takeshima islands were a Japanese territory (this happened before the Lee's visit).

But you've got to love the Japan's side blaming a single person or a newspaper for destroying the entire relationship that neither sides have never really cultivated in the first place.
-2

SunnysideUpAug. 23, 2012 - 11:36AM JST

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 10:37AM JST

Lee has single handedly gone too far and destroyed South Korea-Japan relations that have been built over he last 70 years. Lee has at he same time destroyed US east asiam strategic interests. And what did he solve? Guy is a moron.

Lee has every right to visit the island because it belongs to his country. Absolutely no mistake there. His only misstep in further straining the relationship, if any, was mentioning the little emperor. That awakened all the Hirokos and Toshis that could care less about foreign affairs.
3

perfect1108Aug. 23, 2012 - 11:44AM JST

Japan would never fight for this island if it doesn't belong to them. So no one can literally say or judge that it belongs to Korea. Stop saying it's his country!!!!
-9

just-a-bigguyAug. 23, 2012 - 11:46AM JST

I really want to praise President Lee Myung-Bak, he was really brilliant and gallant! He has concealed his true colours for years and maybe decades that he deceieved the Japanese he is hard line against North Korea and he strike back suddenly that shocked the entire nation of Japan! Actually Lee was an expert of Japan, he was born in Osaka and being a state leader, there was no excuses he step foot on Takeshima island and making the remarks of apology over the Japanese emperor he must predicted the conseuences! I think he has made a deal with China to compensate those economic losses and calclated nothing South Korea might lose
-7

just-a-bigguyAug. 23, 2012 - 11:56AM JST

``Japan no longer has influence as it used to in the international community.” Lee Myung-Bak quote

This remarks also needs jurisdiction from ICJ of defamation the state of japan'!
-2

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 12:18PM JST

All the Chinnba supporters love Lee because of the damage he's cause vto US interets.
0

UtrackAug. 23, 2012 - 01:20PM JST

What damage to US interests? The US still does military drills with the ROK. I don't see ant change.
0

Tiger_In_The_HermitageAug. 23, 2012 - 02:54PM JST

@mikihouse True, we should not and do not use the Emperor as political tool in Japan but this convention only exisit in Japan. Our current Emperor was only a baby when the Emperial Army (Previous Emperor) aurthorised the War in Pacific. The Queen of England did no such thing. So Korean fustration is understandable but not desirable hence our current Emperor did nothing wrong he's only the natural hire.
-1

chucky3176Aug. 23, 2012 - 09:22PM JST

I agree with mikihouse. The Korean media here have said the same thing. That Japanese care more about the remarks made by Lee on the Emperor, rather then the island issue, and that to Japanese, the emperor is still considered the living human god of Japanese, the divine head of state, according to Shinto beliefs. Which comes to my point. The emperor is not an emperor. He has no empire and he's no living human god. He is just a another average man worshipped like how people in North Korea worship Kim Jong Il. He's also the descendent of a war criminal who was never punished. That comes to my next point. Many of the current Japanese leaders are sons of former leaders of Japan who were heavily involved in war criminal activities who never got punished after the war. People like Shinjo Abe, Taro Aso, to name just a few. The results are entirely predictable why Japan has been never been accepted in Asia, as acknolwedging their history. Now Japan is becoming more nationalistic with flags of rising sun and cries of rallying around the emperor. New York Times has an interesting article on Japan's rising anger toward their neighbors and their nationalism.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/world/asia/dispute-over-islands-reflect-japanese-fear-of-chinas-rise.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
0

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 09:30PM JST

UtrackAug. 23, 2012 - 01:20PM JST What damage to US interests? The US still does military drills with the ROK. I don't see ant change.

The first military accord between South Korea and Japan has been shelved, An intelligence information sharinging agreement with North Korea in mind has been shelved. An agreement for the sharing of supplies and logiticis in joint disaster refiefactions has been shelved.I can assure you that Washington is not happy.
0

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 09:39PM JST

SunnysideUpAug. 23, 2012 - 11:36AM JST "OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 10:37AM JST Lee has single handedly gone too far and destroyed South Korea-Japan relations that have been built over he last 70 years. Lee has at he same time destroyed US east asiam strategic interests. And what did he solve? Guy is a moron."

Lee has every right to visit the island because it belongs to his country. Absolutely no mistake there. His only misstep in >further straining the relationship, if any, was mentioning the little emperor. That awakened all the Hirokos and Toshis that >could care less about foreign affairs.

Lee broke an arrangement between South Korea and Japan that no state leader would visit the islands. That has kept this issue from becomming a major problem for decades. He has personally insulted the Emperpor who had absolutely nothing to do with history70 years ago, and in fact is one of the most ardent adviocates for peace and reconciliation with Japan's asian neighbors.
Now Lee's actyions have putr the South Korean governm,ent in a position where they look like thieves. fools or children for not responding to the ICJ request like a civilized country. The World is watching and all the "the rock is ours!" screaming ans PR isn't going to help. Lee is not going to be President again since his term is over. His own party is supporting the daughter of Chung Hee Park. So the question is; What has Lee managed to accomplish that has benefited South Korea? Or has he simply made a total and complete mess for his country?
0

OssanAmericaAug. 23, 2012 - 09:42PM JST

Thomas AndersonAug. 23, 2012 - 11:25AM JST

"Lee has single handedly gone too far and destroyed South Korea-Japan relations that have been built over he last 70 years. Lee has at he same time destroyed US east asiam strategic interests. And what did he solve? Guy is a moron."

No, he merely responded to the Korean population's general outrage when Japan decided to print on their school text >books stating that the Takeshima islands were a Japanese territory (this happened before the Lee's visit).

And what has he gained for South Korea? Has Japan said, OK Mr Lee we guess they are yours?

But you've got to love the Japan's side blaming a single person or a newspaper for destroying the entire relationship that >neither sides have never really cultivated in the first place.

You're in denial of reality, if you think South Korea has not benefited from it;s relations with Japan over the last 70 years.
0

nigelboyAug. 24, 2012 - 12:07AM JST

No, he merely responded to the Korean population's general outrage when Japan decided to print on their school text books stating that the Takeshima islands were a Japanese territory (this happened before the Lee's visit).

Mr. Anderson.

The government approved ONE of many Junior High school texts to include the territorial dispute of Takeshima (OH, THE HORROR!!, MUST CENSOR!!).

Imagine if the government approved two. WAR!!!!

Sarcasm.
-1

chucky3176Aug. 24, 2012 - 12:34AM JST

An emperor without an empire is no emperor. Now cries of war are ringing all over Japan.
0

PT24881Aug. 24, 2012 - 12:39AM JST

@nigelboy

Textbook issue & "comfort women" etc are, in my opinion, cumulated grievances lingering since years that ought not trigger the confrontation without the urgent political need of stirring up nationalistic sentiment -- this applies to both camps ( the PM Noda & president M.B. Lee )..

Fundamental change behind the scenes could well be the gradually but steadily rising economic power of SK that coincides with comparatively declining J influence -- more self- confident SK decided to test with the calculated challenge towards J govt. Unlike the Japan-confrontation, SK is definitely safe against any US-Japan joint attack as long as the US still needing an ally to keep the NK in check.
0

nigelboyAug. 24, 2012 - 01:01AM JST

Textbook issue & "comfort women" etc are, in my opinion, cumulated grievances lingering since years that ought not trigger the confrontation without the urgent political need of stirring up nationalistic sentiment -- this applies to both camps

Except 2MB vowed not to bing historical issues to the relations after 2 months of his Presidency. What Japan puts in their own textbooks (plural) is really none of Korea's business for the Japanese government don't adress what Korea puts in their own whitewashed as well as distorted SINGLE VERSION GOVERMENT APPORVED TEXTBOOK (singular).

What efforts have the Korean government made to the surving comfort women? On the flip side, what efforts have the Japanese government made to the surving atomic bombing victims? Do you see Japanese people demanding apology/compensation from the U.S. by demonstrating in front of the embassy? Do you see them campaigning all over the world for an apology/compensation from the U.S. government? Does the Japanese government ever done such a thing to the U.S. government?

The point here is that your "cumulated grievances" are lingering simply because the Korean government makes no effort to address it because it chose not to do so which enables them to use it as a political card against Japan which will garner support from the Korean citizens.

Fundamental change behind the scenes could well be the gradually but steadily rising economic power of SK that coincides with comparatively declining J influence

How do you get this? SK and Mexico are battling neck and neck in terms of GDP but do you see the same arguments used by Mexico as an emerging power which gives them confidence since U.S. is declining? If you want to know about "fundamental" stuff, there is a reason why the population distinguish "developed" country from a "developing" one. The latter aspires to be the former. The former, of course, are declining as in many of the world.