Foreign minister in Seoul
(From The Japan Times Feb. 14 issue)

日韓併合100周年、外相訪韓

Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada visited South Korea on Feb. 11, and met his counterpart Yu Myung-hwan and President Lee Myung-bak. His first visit to the country as foreign minister took place at a historically sensitive time.

One hundred years ago, Japan annexed Korea through a treaty that was forcibly imposed. The name of the Great Korean Empire disappeared from the map and Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula started. The Republic of Korea (South Korea) came into being in 1948. Not until 1965 were diplomatic ties between Japan and South Korea normalized.

At a joint news conference with Mr. Yu after their talks, Mr. Okada said: "What happened 100 years ago deprived Korean people of their country and hurt their national pride. I am proud of being a Japanese. So, I understand all the more the feelings of people who were deprived of their country and whose national pride was injured. We must never forget the feelings of the side that was annexed and of the victims who still feel the pains." He called for enhancing the future-oriented bilateral relationship while not forgetting what happened in the past 100 years.

His statement is appropriate in view of the historical context in which Japan and South Korea have developed. It shows that he took great care to prevent emotional flare-ups in South Korea or Japan during this sensitive year.

Earlier, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama had emphasized that his administration has the courage to look squarely at the history involving Japan and South Korea. He also has made it clear that he attaches great importance to Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's Aug. 15, 1995, statement, which expressed the Japanese government's "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" for the damage and suffering caused by Japan's colonial rule and aggression. President Lee seems to appreciate Mr. Hatoyama's attitude.

It is unlikely that emotional reactions related to historical perceptions will die away soon. Japan and South Korea must handle bilateral relations carefully, step by step.

岡田外相は韓国で柳明桓外相、李明博大統領と会見した。外相就任後初の訪韓は歴史的に慎重を要する時期に行なわれた。

100年前に強制的に締結された日韓併合条約により大韓帝国は消滅し、朝鮮半島植民地支配の時代が始まった。1948年に大韓民国建国、1965年まで国交は正常化されなかった。

岡田外相は「併合された側、痛みを覚える被害者の気持ちを決して忘れてはならない」と述べた上で、未来志向の関係強化に意欲を示した。日韓が歩んできた歴史的背景をふまえた適切な発言だった。

鳩山首相は、現政権は歴史を直視する勇気があり、村山首相談話を重視していると述べてきた。李大統領もそれを受け入れているようだ。歴史認識に対する感情的反応はすぐには消えない。日韓は慎重に両国関係を深めていくべきだ。