S. Koreas Park says Japan summit would be pointless ================================================= Seoul (AFP) - President Park Geun-Hye has painted a bleak picture of South Koreas current and future ties with Japan -- a key ally in efforts to rein in North Koreas nuclear programme. In an interview with the BBC, Park suggested a summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe would be pointless given Tokyos refusal to apologise for Japans past wrongdoings. Abuses carried out during Japans repressive 1910-45 colonial rule remain a source of deep anger and resentment in South Korea, particularly the treatment of women forced to work as comfort women in wartime Japanese military brothels. Outrage at Japans perceived reluctance to show sincere remorse and offer adequate reparations has been compounded by a territorial rift over a crop of rocky islets in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). None of these cases have been resolved or addressed, Park said in the interview broadcast Monday ahead of an upcoming state visit to Britain. View gallery.Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pictured in Istanbul … Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe pictured in Istanbul on October 29, 2013 (AFP Photo/Ozan Kose) If Japan continues to stick to the same historical perceptions and repeat its past comments, then what purpose would a summit serve? Perhaps it would be better not to have one, she said. If they continue to say there is no need for an apology, and no need to acknowledge their past wrongdoings, then what good would it do? In recent months, the United States has tried to seek a rapprochement between its two key military allies in Asia, but has made little progress. The strain in Seoul-Tokyo relations is especially problematic at a time when the international community is struggling to build a consensus on dealing with North Koreas nuclear ambitions. Speculation is growing of a possible return to six-party talks on North Korea, in which South Korea and Japan are both participants. Their respective envoys on North Korea continue to meet for discussions, but analysts say a Park-Abe summit would be important in presenting a united front to Pyongyang. Parks pessimism about such a meeting followed a separate interview with Frances Le Figaro newspaper last week in which she said the door remained open to a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong
Posted on: Mon, 04 Nov 2013 14:06:18 +0000
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