Japanese P.M. Noda calls for ‘stable relationship’ in forum


President Lee Myung-bak on Monday called on Japan to face up to history and show sincerity to move forward the two countries’ relations weighed down by recent diplomatic tension over Dokdo.

His remarks were delivered by Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan at a meeting of the Korea-Japan Cooperation Committee in Seoul. About 100 political and business leaders from the two countries took part in discussions on regional security and economic cooperation.

“Korea and Japan should solidify the foundation for the development of their partnership with the courage and wisdom to confront history and sincere actions underpinning it,” Lee said in a congratulatory address.

The two-day event came as the two countries’ bilateral ties remain at their lowest ebb in decades since Lee’s unprecedented visit to Dokdo on Aug. 10. Tokyo has for decades claimed the outcrops as its territory via school textbooks, defense reports and other government papers.

Tension escalated further after Tokyo renewed its demand to settle the row at the International Court of Justice. Its refusal to apologize and compensate for colonial atrocities such as forced laborers and sex slaves has soured public sentiment and triggered anti-Japan protests here.

Japan illegally seized the islets in 1905 before a full-fledged annexation of the peninsula. Seoul sees the assertion as a vestige of imperialism and Dokdo as a symbol of its 1945 dependence.

In a following message, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda reiterated the need for a stable relationship based on a “cool-headed” approach to territorial and historical rows.

“There are difficult issues on which Japan and Korea differ in their stances,” he said in a speech carried by Muto Masatoshi, Tokyo’s ambassador to Seoul.

“Given the current situation in Northeast Asia including North Korean issues, the coalition between Japan and Korea, both U.S. allies, and Japan, Korea and the U.S. is an axis of peace and safety in East Asia and the Pacific region, and should be strengthened.”

Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba said in a separate message read for him that “upsetting the relationship the two countries have built so far is of no help to either of them,” calling for wisdom gathering to overcome the difficulties.

The civilian forum gathers annually and is co-chaired by former Korean Prime Minister Nam Duck-woo and former Japanese premier and current councilor Nakasone Yasuhiro.

Among the participants is former Japanese premier Taro Aso. He visited Lee later in the day.

Aso’s trip gained traction as he is known as a close confidant of Shinjo Abe, a former premier and the newly elected chief of the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party. Abe, a staunch hawk and nationalist, may retake the premiership if his party wins general elections later this year.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)