TOKYO, March 16 (Xinhua) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with visiting South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol right here on Thursday, amid waves of opposition and criticism over ignoring historical past.
At the Prime Minister’s Official Residence, Kishida met with Yoon, who’s on a two-day go to to Japan. It marked the primary time in practically 5 years that leaders of the 2 nations have held a summit in Japan.
Yoon’s go to adopted his step to resolve the dispute over wartime laborers. South Korea earlier introduced a plan {that a} native basis would collect funds for South Koreans compelled to work for Japanese corporations throughout World War II and pay compensation the South Korean courtroom judgment demanded from Japanese corporations.
Yoon’s plan has been triggering resentment at house and got here underneath sturdy opposition in Tokyo as properly.
In entrance of the official residence, crowds of Japanese gathered on Thursday night to oppose the 2 nations’ joint navy alliance in disregard of historical past, holding up placards that learn “Japanese companies and the government should apologize and compensate for forced labor” and “No to the Japan-U.S.-South Korea military alliance.”
“It is totally unacceptable for the Japanese and South Korean governments to completely resolve the historical issue through an inter-governmental agreement, ignoring the forced laborers and the victims,” mentioned a protestor.
“The Japanese government not only ignores historical facts but also intends to join hands with South Korea and the United States to build a military alliance and go to war again. We firmly oppose and protest,” mentioned one other native citizen.
Analysts right here imagine that the advance of Japan-South Korea relations lacks public assist, whereas sentiments towards one another nonetheless occupy the mainstream within the two nations.
It is tough to bridge the massive hole between the 2 nations on such historic points as compelled labor and “comfort women” via formal “shuttle diplomacy” by the leaders alone, specialists mentioned.