The two countries have been arguing over territorial disputes for years, citing the Korean government’s years of compensation for forced labor and Japan’s trade regulations, as well as “Dokdo” and Takeshima.In this sharp confrontation, the Korean government withdrew the Japanese apology and compensation issue and first offered a hand of reconciliation. The diplomatic reconciliation decision seems to have been made by the realistic cooperation between China and the United States and Japan, which is now a confrontation between the United States and North Korea, and that the U.S., South Korea and Japan should form an alliance to build a cooperative structure.
Shortly after the Korean government’s announcement, President Biden evaluated that he had opened a “new chapter,” and the State Department also welcomed the compensation plan as a historic solution.
However, when asked about Japan’s apology, he said that it was not an answer for the United States, but a problem for Korea and Japan to solve.The U.S. welcomed the government’s compensation plan every day?U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price announced the U.S. position on the compensation plan for Japan’s forced labor as the first major issue at the start of the briefing.
He evaluated the solution as a historic announcement and said he hopes to further develop cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan based on it.The details of the briefing by spokesman Price are as follows.
Ned Price / State Department spokesman: The United States welcomes the historic announcement following discussions between Korea and Japan. Korea and Japan are the most important allies in the world, including the Indo-Pacific, and strengthening bilateral relations leads to progress toward our common goal.
(Source from Reuters/Alamy)
Price particularly emphasized how much the U.S. has worked to promote trilateral relations between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan.Since the inauguration of the Biden administration, high-level officials, including the leaders of the three countries, have met 25 times, and the U.S. said it expects to continue triangular cooperation to build a more prosperous world.Earlier, President Biden said in a separate statement shortly after the Korean government’s announcement that the solution would mark a “genius new chapter,” and Secretary of State Tony Blinken also welcomed the statement, saying he was encouraged to promote bilateral relations between Korea and Japan.How did the U.S. state its stance on the negative domestic public opinion on the compensation plan?There were also questions about the backlash in Korea, which Price declined to give a direct answer.However, President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Kishida showed courageous leadership on difficult and complex historical issues.He also reiterated his welcome to the announcement of the compensation plan, emphasizing the importance of cooperation between South Korea, the U.S. and Japan in North Korea.When asked whether the Japanese government should apologize to the victims, he drew a line, saying that it is not a question for the U.S. to answer.State Department spokesman Ned Price: That is not a question for the United States to answer. It is a matter for Japan and Korea, which are precious allies, to discuss. Korea and Japan are appropriate subjects of discussion.Today is the day of the meeting between National Security Secretary Kim Sung-han and U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinkon.Price said there would be a number of issues on the agenda here, but said Blinkon welcomed the announcement.He also said he would emphasize measures to support Ukraine and strengthen expansionary deterrence against North Korea.
EJ SONG
ASIA JOURNAL
