Ⓒ JoongAng Ilbo / JoongAng Ilbo Japanese version2022.06.28 16:40
While the Korea-Japan summit, which was promoted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit, failed to be realized, criticisms of Prime Minister Fumio Kishida came out in Japan. The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post said in an article from Tokyo on the 27th, “Prime Minister Kishida declined the Korea-Japan summit meeting with South Korean President Yoon Seok-you in consideration of the political schedule in Japan. Expressed the concerns of experts, “I lost the opportunity.” Considering the domestic political schedule while the security risks in the region such as China, Russia, and North Korea are increasing is evaluated as “short-sighted”.
Professor Robert Dujaric (Co-Director of the Institute for Contemporary Asian Studies) at Temple University, Japan Campus said, “Korea has always been a tough partner (to Japan), which can’t be helped, but this (rejection of talks) is a terrible short-sighted view of Japan. An example. ” “This suggests that Tokyo is a broader geopolitical painting with little understanding of the importance of South Korea,” he said.
“Rejecting exchanges with neighboring countries with similar security concerns is equivalent to the’failure’of Japanese leadership,” he said. “Japan only if the United States directs (in terms of bilateral cooperation) what. There is a growing view of doing things, but this means that you can’t think for yourself, and (this) has caused some very unfortunate things to miss. “
Professor A. Miyashita (International Relations) of Tokyo International University has criticized Japan as having a “weak attitude” if Prime Minister Kishida follows South Korea’s request while the comfort women issue and the recruitment issue have not been resolved. It will come out, but Japan should definitely respond to South Korea’s gestures to develop relations, which might result in a more friendly environment and allow South Korea to make more concessions. Insisted.
President Yoon arrived in Madrid, Spain on the 27th to attend the NATO summit on the 29th and 30th. According to the Oval Office officials, the Korea-Japan-US summit meeting will be held on the 29th during the NATO summit session, but the Korea-Japan summit meeting will not be held in a standing talk. The reason why the Japanese side avoided the Korea-Japan talks is known to be conscious of the House of Councilors election next month.
