In the Japanese diplomatic blue book, there were distortions regarding Dokdo and no mention of forced mobilization, less than a month following the Korea-Japan summit. The Korean government protested, but Japan refused to accept it. The compensation plan for forced labor by Japan is still awaited. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised a stern response to Japan’s unfair claims but did not specify any measures. The government accused Japan of “humiliation diplomacy” and demanded an investigation. Despite this, Japan did not respond as expected, bringing up other contentious issues. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized the restoration of the Korea-Japan government consultative body and Korea-US-Japan security cooperation as sincere measures by Japan, with follow-up measures to come.
◀ Anchor ▶
Regarding the Japanese diplomatic blue book containing the unreasonable territorial claim to Dokdo, the Japanese government said that there was a protest from the Korean government, but it might not be accepted.
Japan’s sincere measures regarding the compensation plan for forced labor, which the Korean government expected, have yet to be seen.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it would respond sternly to Japan’s unfair claims, but did not explain specific measures.
Reporter Um Ji-in covered the story.
◀ Report ▶
In the Japanese diplomatic blueprint, which came out less than a month following the Korea-Japan summit, there was no word “forced mobilization” and only distortions regarding “Dokdo” were included.
The expression “to inherit the historical awareness of previous cabinets” has also disappeared.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the Japanese general minister to protest, but Japan continued to make unreasonable claims.
The Chief Cabinet Secretary, a spokesman for the Japanese government, said he “cannot accept” the South Korean protest to withdraw its unjust territorial claim.
[마쓰노 히로카즈/일본 관방장관]
″There was a protest from Korea regarding the ‘Takeshima’ (Dokdo) issue in relation to Korea-related technology in the Foreign Office, but it was objected to the effect that it might not be accepted.″
The government has said that Japan will respond to preemptive measures while announcing a solution to compensation for forced labor without the participation of companies involved in war crimes.
[박진/외교부장관 (지난 3월 6일)]
″(From my government announcement) I think the water is more than half full. We expect that water cup will be filled further according to Japan’s sincere response.”
However, there was no response from Japan as expected, and Japan brought up the issues of Dokdo, comfort women and Fukushima contaminated water as if it had waited.
Along with the condemnation of Japan, the Democratic Party accused the government of “humiliation diplomacy” and demanded a parliamentary investigation.
[박홍근/더불어민주당 원내대표]
″The Japanese government has completely poured out half of the water our government gave us, saying Japan would fill it.″
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “We will sternly respond to Japan’s unfair claims,” but did not explain specific countermeasures to repeated distortions following textbooks.
At the same time, he repeatedly emphasized that the restoration of the Korea-Japan government consultative body and Korea-US-Japan security cooperation are ″evaluated as sincere measures by Japan″ and that ″follow-up measures will follow.″
This is MBC News Umjiin.
Video editing: Jinwoo Kim
As tensions continue to rise between South Korea and Japan over historical and territorial disputes, it remains to be seen what specific measures the Korean government will take in response to Japan’s persistent unreasonable claims. Despite the expectation of a sincere compensation plan for forced labor, Japan has yet to deliver. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has promised a stern response to Japan’s distortions and protests, but the situation remains unresolved. As the Democratic Party calls for a parliamentary investigation and Japan brings up further contentious issues, it is clear that the relationship between these two countries is far from stable.
