Japan Press Weekly

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2019 November 20 - 26 TOP3 [POLITICS]

Even with continuation of Japan-S. Korea GSOMIA, issues still long way from being resolved

The Japan-South Korea General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) will survive for the time being although its termination was said to be inevitable. The South Korean government on November 22 announced that it will retract its decision to discontinue the pact with Japan. Even with this decision, however, the situation is still far from fundamentally resolving the worst bilateral relations between the two countries in the postwar period.

The present situation stemmed from Japan's insincere attitude toward South Korea's top court ruling over wartime Korean forced laborers. The Japanese government welcomed the continuation of the GSOMIA, but it will most likely maintain its stance as always toward the issue of forced labor. Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu at a press conference on November 22 emphasized again that Japan had already resolved the forced labor issue with the 1965 Japan-ROK claims agreement, that Seoul's supreme court judgement violates international law, and that Japan will again demand the correction of this judgement.

The Japanese government led by Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has been taking an attitude of abandoning the 1995 Murayama Statement and the 1998 Tokyo-Seoul Partnership Declaration signed by Japan's PM Obuchi Keizo and South Korean President Kim Dae-jung both of which stated Japan's "remorse for its colonial rule" over South Korea.

Regarding the areas of diplomacy and trade, both sides will reportedly resume dialogue. This is a welcome development but the road to resolving bilateral issues will not open up unless Japan truly demonstrates its sincere remorse over its past colonial rule.

Past related articles:
> Former high SDF officer: Dialogue is important to ease tensions between Japan and South Korea [September 24, 2019]
> Rally held to promote grassroots-based solidarity between Japan and South Korea [September 8, 2019]
> Shii: Japan’s remorse for its colonial rule essential to ease tensions with South Korea [ August 27, 2019]
> End of Japan-ROK GSOMIA represents worsening in bilateral relations [August 23, 2019]