S. Korea and Japan Agreed to
Step Up Joint Efforts to Deal with
Various Global Challenges
- Foreign Ministers Yu and Nakasone in Seoul - To Build a Mature Partnership for the Future:
South Korea's Foreign Minister Yu Myunghwan
(second from bottom, left) and his
Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone
(bottom right) hold a Korea-Japan Foreign
Ministers' Meeting with their aides, at Yu's
office in Seoul, on Feb. 11, 2009. During the
meeting, they exchanged views on ways to
strengthen cooperation in a variety of areas,
political situation on the Korean Peninsula
including North Korea's nuclear issue and
collaboration at the international stage to
overcome the global financial crisis.
South Korea and Japan agreed to step up joint efforts to deal with various global challenges in a move to build a mature partnership for the future. Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Hirofumi Nakasone reconfirmed their will, on Feb. 11, 2009, to cooperate to resuscitate the stagnant global economy, end North Korea's nuclear programs, and strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries. In particular, the two ministers shared the idea that Korea and Japan should boost economic ties in the current global economic doldrums, and vowed to carve out specific plans for rejuvenation of the real economy and the prevention of trade protectionism at the upcoming G20 Economic Summit in London in April. They also pledged to collaborate in international settings, such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Nakasone promised to support Seoul's membership in the Financial Stability Forum (FSF), an international organization consisting of major nations' financial authorities and international financial bodies. Minister Nakasone arrived in Seoul, on February 10 for talks with Minister Yu. It was Nakasone's first trip to South Korea since taking office last September. He returned home later in the day, after paying a courtesy call on resident Lee Myung-bak at Cheong Wa Dae, on February 11. Based upon recognition of the two countries' global status, Yu and Nakasone saw eye to eye on contributing to solving international issues. At the talks, the two ministers picked three tasks for their joint operation in Afghanistan - vocational training, bean seed development, and the invitation of Afghan trainees. For one, they agreed to specify the agreements made between President Lee Myung-bak and Prime Minister Taro Aso on Jan. 12, 2009, about helping rebuild war-torn Afghanistan. They also agreed to cooperate on information exchanges and vessel convoy operations as part of plans to jointly deal with pirates off the Somali coast. Yu and Nakasone pledged to continue their efforts toward North Korea's denuclearization through the Six-Party Talks. They joined voices in saying that a series of threatening remarks made recently by North Korea are not appropriate, and jointly asked the Communist state to take actions in ways to contribute to regional security.
Minister Nakasone called for a comprehensive solution to the North Korean nuclear and missile programs, in addition to its human rights abuses. Nakasone also urged North Korea to stop heightening tension on the Peninsula with its harsh rhetoric. North Korea has threatened recently to ditch political and military pacts with Seoul and nullify a maritime border in the West Sea. Nakasone expressed Japan's support on Seoul's current policy on Pyongyang and its efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue, while Yu promised Seoul's continued support for Japan's efforts to resolve the issue of its nationals abducted by North Korea decades ago. Japan wants the Seoul government to help family members of Yaeko Taguchi, who was abducted by North Korea at the age of 22, interview Kim Hyeon-hee, a former death row inmate involved in the bombing of a Korean Air passenger plane in 1987. Kim is known to have learned Japanese from Taguchi and said earlier that she was alive at least until 1987. Japan said it has confirmed the abductions of 17 Japanese citizens by Pyongyang in the 1970s and 1980s. The North admitted to only 13 abductions and allowed five abductees to return to Japan in 2002, claiming the others had died. In efforts to enhance the two countries' bilateral relationship, the two ministers agreed to upgrade Korea-Japan FTA talks. Japan also promised to assist Korea's parts and materials industry and lend a hand in Korea's successful hosting of the 2012 Yeosu Expo. With the aim of expanding human exchanges, the ministers also agreed to extend a joint government scholarship program for 1,000 South Korean students to study science and engineering in Japanese universities over the coming 10 years. The agreement is a step forward for the two countries, whose often-prickly relations are challenged by diplomatic rows over shared history and territory, part of the legacy of Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Stressing the need for a futureoriented, mature partnership between the two neighboring countries, the Japanese foreign minister said that an annual festival on South Korean and Japanese culture, which has been held in Seoul, would also take place in Tokyo this year. The ministers also welcomed the launch of a Korea-Japan academic research program on January 23 to deal with Korean-Japanese history, international politics, and the international economy. They hoped the program would provide a future vision for a comprehensive cooperative relationship between the two countries.
South Korea and Japan are able to cooperate in various fields, based on their accumulated experiences in soft power development, assistanceabroad, including the (ongoing) financial crisis, environmental issues, nonproliferation and anti-terrorism," Yu said at a joint press conference with Nakasone after the talks. "During today's talks, there were many useful discussions on how to develop future-oriented relations between the two countries," Yu said. "Korea and Japan are close allies who share common values of democracy and a market economy and are neighboring countries who culturally understand each other. If the two countries cooperate using their experiences, they would produce a synergy effect," Yu said. "The two nations are able to jointly cope up with global issues such as the financial crisis and climate change based on various experiences regarding developments and accumulated soft power," Yu said. "Both ministers shared concerns on North Korea's recent moves to intentionally escalate tension and urged the North to act in a direction to contribute to the stabilization of the region," Yu said. Pyongyang has recently declared a decision to scrap all non-aggression pacts with Seoul and nullify the Northern Limit Line - the de facto sea border in the West Sea. North Korea is also reportedly preparing to test-fire a long-range missile. Standing next to Yu at the joint press conference, Nakasone underlined the need for "future-oriented, mature partnership" between the two nations, despite their long-running historical and territorial disputes. "There is no bilateral relationship without problems between any two nations," said Nakason. "I think that the two nations should make efforts to develop their ties in a broad and rational perspective." "In this round of talks, we exchanged opinions on pending bilateral issues and comprehensive topics the international society faces, including the North Korean nuclear issue, reconstruction of Afghanistan and Somali pirates," said Nakasone.
Separate from the Korea-Japan Foreign Ministers' Meeting, Minister Yu warned North Korea to refrain from test-firing a long-range ballistic missile, saying a launch would cause international sanctions against the isolated state. "A firing of long-range missiles is prohibited by U.N.Security Council resolutions of July and October in 2006, so it would cause North Korea to isolate itself," Yu said in a news briefing on February 12. "Given that it would lead to international sanctions based on the U.N. Resolutions, a missile launch would bring no benefit to North Korea," said Yu. South Korean and U.S. intelligence authorities have spotted moves by North Korea to prepare the launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile. The North is believed to have moved its most advanced missile, the Taepodong-2, to a launch site on the eastern coast. North Korea has been heightening tension with South Korea by threatening an armed conflict and provoking the United States by readying to test a longrange missile. But it should be reminded that it is engaging in a dangerous game, which could invite massive retaliation. Recently, North Korea warned of war and declared that it was scrapping the 1992 Basic Agreement, which includes clauses on the Northern Limit Line, a disputed territorial demarcation line on the West Sea. One of them reads, "Until the decision on the maritime demarcation line is final, the non-aggression areas of the Sea shall be those that have been followed by each side until the present time." "I have a willingness to meet with the relevant North Korean officials for dialogue any time, any place, and irrespective of agenda and format, if it aids peace on the Korean Peninsula and improvement in inter-Korean ties," said Seoul's new Unification Minister Hyun In-taek during his inaugural address. "South and North Korea should build trust through sustainable dialogue and cooperation," said the new minister.¡Ú
The Outcome of the Korea-Japan
Foreign Ministers' Meeting
- The two Ministers reaffirmed that they would consider the visit of President Lee Myung-bak to Japan at a time of mutual convenience during this year. Minister Yu extended gratitude to Minister Nakasone for inviting him to Japan and expressed willingness to visit Japan at the earliest possible date. - The two Ministers shared the view that Korea and Japan should step up their common efforts to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation in the midst of the current global financial crisis. They also agreed to closely work together at the G-20 summit on financial markets and the world economy, to be held in London in April, to come up with detailed action plans for economic recovery and the prevention of protectionism. Moreover, they pledged to cooperate at the related international organizations, such as WTO and OECD. They also agreed to cooperate to implement the agreements between the leaders of the two countries, such as promoting Japan's investment in Korea in the parts and materials industries, and cooperation for a success of the 2012 Yeosu Expo. - The two Ministers agreed to actively cooperate for the expansion of cultural and people-to-people exchanges. To this end, they decided to carry out inter-agency coordination to expand the Korea-Japan Joint Government Scholarship Program for Students in the Science and Engineering Field, increasing the number of beneficiaries up to 1,000 for the next 10 years, to launch the "The Third Conference on Korea-Japan Cultural Exchanges" focusing on civil exchanges, and to hold a "Korea-Japan Cultural Festival," which has been held in Seoul since 2005, in Tokyo as well as Seoul for the first time this year. The two Ministers welcomed the official launch of the "Korea-Japan New Era Joint Research Project" on February 23. They hoped that the project will help present a blue print for the bilateral cooperation between the two neighbors. - The two Ministers appreciated the outcome of the working-level consultation on dealing with marine litters on February 6, and agreed to make joint efforts to resolve the issue. They also welcomed that the two sides agreed to hold the 10th working-level meeting to determine the boundaries of EEZ between Korea and Japan on March 9. - The two Ministers agreed to make continuous efforts at the Six-Party Talks to realize denuclearization of North Korea at an early date. They shared the view that the tension built by the recent hard-line comments by North Korea is not desirable, and urged North Korea to take action to contribute to the regional stability. Minister Nakasone expressed support for the Korean government's policy toward North Korea, and its efforts to improve inter-Korean relations. Minister Yu stated that the Korean government will continue to provide possible support to resolve the issue of Japanese abductees from the humanitarian perspective. - Given the international standing of Korea and Japan, the two Ministers shared the view that the two countries should expand cooperation to contribute to resolving pending issues of the international society. With regard to joint development cooperation projects for reconstruction in Afghanistan agreed at the Korea-Japan summit on January 12, the two Ministers agreed to carry out 3 projects as priorities, namely training program for Afghan master trainers, Korea-Japan joint training program and testing cultivation of soybean seeds. They also agreed to promote joint projects in other areas. - Minister Nakasone reaffirmed the Japanese government's strong support for Korea's accession to the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) in 2010 as well as its bid to host the High-level Event on the Effects of International Assistance in 2011.
