Japan, South Korea seek to deepen cooperation, overcome old disputes

Japan and South Korea agreed to take forward ties and move past lingering historical disputes, pledging to transform a relationship that could have broad implications for the region.

Key-highlights

• Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida became the first Japanese leader to visit Seoul in 12 years.
• The visit followed a trip to Japan in March by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

What are the common concern?

• Both countries are brought together by shared concerns over
  • North Korea’s nuclear programme
  • China’s regional muscle-flexing

What are the disputes between South Korea and Japan?

Relations between the two North Asian U.S. allies have been strained over disputes dating to Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea.

• Japan's colonial-era atrocities: The two Asian nations have long had lukewarm relations because of Japan's colonial occupation of the peninsula for 35 years until 1945. Japan's colonial-era atrocities towards Korea, such as sexual slavery and forced labor.
• Abuse of women workforce: Koreans accuse Japan of forcing women to work in wartime brothels for the Japanese military and using forced labour, among other abuses.
• Trade restrictions: Relations deteriorated in 2019 when Japan restricted exports of high-tech material to South Korea.
• Territorial dispute: The two countries also have a territorial dispute over a cluster of windswept volcanic islets, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan.
  • The islets are controlled by Seoul, with a small contingent of coast guard personnel, but are also claimed by Tokyo.
    
    

How would it impact India?

• India, which has friendly bilateral relations with both Japan and South Korea, is in a position to steer the trilateral relationship towards outcomes that provide an effective deterrent to China’s overreach.
• India, Japan and South Korea are major countries willing to contribute to the stability and security of the Asia-Pacific region.
• The latest development gives India a template to explore a new triangle with Japan and South Korea, where New Delhi shares a wide range of interests.
• Common security issues:
  • maritime politics in East Asia and the Indian Ocean
  • non-traditional security threats
  • Chinese assertiveness
  • regional politics covering China, North Korea, and Afghanistan etc.
• This possible trilateral cooperation tends to focus on the “balance of power” equation that can institutionalise structural frameworks in the Asia-Pacific region.