JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA : DIVIDED BY HISTORY, UNITED BY AMERICA

JAPAN & SOUTH KOREA

“DIVIDED BY HISTORY, UNITED BY AMERICA“

With the rising hike of Chinese power at international platform and high risk of potential cold war between the United States and the People’s Republic of China both South Korea and Japan hold the most strategic weight in this new potential rise of a new superpower as both nation-states i.e., South Korea and Japan have geographical proximity with China. They are also diplomatically and politically closer with the United States which makes them the most important player in North-East Asia and Indo Pacific.

Another significant importance of these states is their contiguity with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) or North Korea, which remains as alone Nuclear-armed foe of the United States. South Korea and Japan are considered as the Powerhouse of Asia's Economy also known as East Asian Giants with approximately an economy of (5.18 trillion dollars) of Japan and (1.619 trillion dollars) of South Korea. Both nations are regarded as Techno based countries as their indigenous companies are regarded as the finest Prime Technological and automobile companies in the world. LG, Samsung, Kia, Hyundai are classic examples of successful South Korean companies.

Mitsubishi, Toyota, Honda, Sony are classic examples of Japanese companies. But if we behold in actuality the Bilateral relationship between Japan and South Korea, their relationship is full up of “Hostility and Distrust.” Both nations have long Historical Distress, which has developed distress between Seoul and Tokyo, which always remained as the stumbling blockage between Japan and South Korea.

HISTORICAL BITTERNESS

Both Nation-states share a thorny history in which they had enormous historical infighting. Japan perpetually had a golden desire to conquer the Korean peninsula, which came up in the picture in 1910. Its ambition .remained the annexation of the Korean peninsula and turning up the whole peninsula into its colony. Japan polished its authority over judiciary, legislature and civil administration which was vested in the Japanese established government of Korea.There are many other reasons also for the perpetual bitterness between the two nations.

Japanese loaded atrocities on Korean Nationalists who demanded self-autonomy, anti-Japanese voices were brutally suppressed, and anti-Japanese guerrilla activities were smashed down hard.

WAR CRIMES & ATROCITIES IN COLONIAL ERA

In the duration between 1935 and 1945, around 50,000 Koreans were laid down as forced labours in coal mines. This can be testified through the infamous (Hashima Island case) where Koreans were laid down as forced labours in coal mines and bearing intensive hardships, they were disregarded of adequate food and medicine
Korean women were characterised as “Sex Slaves” and were laid to please Japanese soldiers. These women faced sexual harassment, atrocities, mental humiliation during world war 2.

IDENTITY CRISIS

The hegemony of the Japanese also came down upon their identity. The Initial initiative taken by them was the enforcement of the Japanese language. The Korean language was ignored; the Japanese language was pressed down as the primary language of Korean schools. Worship at the Shinto shrine was enforced as compulsory. The principles of the Japanese emperor were inducted into the curriculum of Korean schools, and Koreans were forced to take up Japanese names

JAPAN – SOUTH KOREA RELATIONS (POST WW2)

With the surrender of Imperial Japan and the Establishment of Independent Korea, an agreement between the USA and the Soviet Union was signed. This divided the peninsula on the 38 parallel and the establishment of DPRK (Democratic people’s republic of Korea) backed by the USSR and ROK (Republic of Korea) backed by the USA was formed.

KOREAN WAR (CONTRIBUTION OF JAPAN)

With the emergence of the Korean War and the Invasion of North Korea towards South Korea, Japan (Occupied by Allied forces) played a decisive role in the rescue of South Korea and conquering the territory back to 38 parallel .

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JAPAN AND SOUTH KOREA (POST KOREAN WAR)

With the Armistice with North Korea, the most paramount thing for South Korea was to rebuild its economy to make economic development. And to make this ambition in reality South Korea inked a treaty with Japan which is known as [ South Korea – Japan treaty of 1965]. In this treaty, Japan agreed to provide 800 million dollars to south Korea as economic assistance, along with giving permanent residence to the Koreans who were living in Japan before world war 2. The United States of America also argued for the normalisation of relations, and as a result political and economic relations also improved rapidly

DRIFT MOVEMENT BETWEEN (SEOUL AND TOKYORELATIONS)

The Rapid Economic development of the Japanese economy and South Korean economy contributed to the creation of a warm and close relationship but a series of unfortunate incidents soured the relationship between the two nation- states.
The most Prominent issue was Japan’s pre- world war colonial ambition. Another instance that enhanced hostility and bitterness between South Korea and Japan was the Textbook Issue. The Japanese government gave passages in history textbooks that just glossed over all the atrocities committed by it in the pre-world period in Asia.

TRADE DISPUTE

In the current time trade again became the “Bone of Contention” between Seoul and Tokyo. Both Nation-State remains the champion of Machinery, Computer, Mechanics, Robotics. But recent resentment over Trade has made things worse. Last year Japan laid down export to cut back on chemicals and other materials which became a critical hit for the South Korean Technological Industry. It was cited that these materials are illegally sent to North Korea for making weapons. Japan also enhanced more restrictions that removed South Korea from their list of most favourable trade partners. The South Korean government also retaliated accordingly. In his speech, President Moon Jae In stated “Warned Tech companies to prepare for prolonged Trade Dispute”. After that, the South Korean government has encouraged the development of goods that were imported from Japan. South Korean masses also showed cold shoulder to Japanese commodities, clothes, beer.

STRIFE ON CO-OPERATION

There was wide hostility, sourness in the bilateral relationship between Seoul and Tokyo which undoubtedly will affect security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. In the Hostile atmosphere, South Korea was also observed to quash [GSOMIA]-General Security of Military Information Agreement. This is a trilateral way of strategic intelligence collection which is very pivotal for Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul to counter North Korea’s missile threats.

American’s Role in Bilateral Relationship Between Japan and South Korea

The United States of America has always remained as the bedrock of this bilateral relationship. They see both East Asian states as very pivotal for their national interest to counter rising Chinese influence in the Pacific and nuclear threat from Pyongyang. America always advocated for a Cordial relationship between Seoul and Tokyo to make a stable pacific. The USA knows the strategic importance of South Korea and Japan and America has acknowledged Military and Economical assistance to both states.

COMMON CONCERN AND NEW WAY OUT

North Korea with its regular testing of nuclear arsenals and emergence of Powerful China in the backyard of both countries is a matter of fact.Both Tokyo and Seoul shares democratic values, a liberal world, and human rights They support rule established by law, and free navigation in Indo-Pacific which automatically makes them “Natural Ally”. So it’s their stint to forget the past and put much emphasis on Economic Collaboration to have a speedy Post-Corona economic resource. Much emphasis on military cooperation to contain expansionist China and to put the cap on Pyongyang’s growing Nuclear test should also be made by both nations.