Japan and South Korea commemorated the 60th anniversary of diplomatic normalisation on Sunday, the Japan News informed.
The milestone arrives amid political turbulence in both nations, with South Korea’s new liberal President Lee Jae-myung navigating the legacy of his impeached conservative predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, while Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba seeks to stabilise ties against a backdrop of rising regional threats.
President Lee faces the delicate task of balancing historical grievances with contemporary strategic needs. Though critical of Japan’s perceived reluctance to fully atone for wartime abuses, including forced labour and the “comfort women” system, Lee signalled continuity in security cooperation.
His recent meeting with Ishiba at the G7 summit struck a conciliatory tone, framing the neighbours as “sharing the same front yard” and urging focus on overcoming “small differences.” This aligns with his predecessor Yoon’s 2023 initiative to resolve forced labour disputes through a South Korea-funded compensation plan, a move that sparked domestic backlash but eased bilateral trade and tourism.
However, many South Koreans resent Japan’s limited reciprocity for Seoul’s concessions, demanding deeper apologies, particularly ahead of Korea’s 15 August liberation anniversary.
Tokyo’s empathetic outreach
Prime Minister Ishiba adopted a notably more empathetic stance than recent Japanese leaders, openly acknowledging wartime aggression and expressing sympathy for victims. At a Tokyo reception marking the anniversary, he envisioned “a bright future” for relations, emphasising cooperation on shared challenges like low birth rates and ageing populations.
There are many fields in which we can cooperate by sharing knowledge. We want to further broaden the areas for Japan-South Korea cooperation and pass the baton of cooperation to future generations.
This reflects a strategic pivot: Japan now views South Korea as an economic equal rather than a developing beneficiary, with bilateral trade and technology interdependence, particularly in semiconductors, anchoring ties.
The 1965 Normalisation Treaty, which provided South Korea $500 million in economic aid while declaring wartime claims “settled,” remains contentious. Despite Japan’s subsequent “atonement money” for comfort women—later halted under South Korea’s former President Moon Jae-in—historical disputes recurrently disrupt ties.
Yet Ishiba’s administration recognises that cooperation is “more essential than ever” amid North Korea’s advancing missiles, China’s assertiveness, and Trump’s trade policies.
Both leaders confront urgent common challenges beyond history. Ishiba prioritised regional revitalisation to attract young workers, while Lee seeks policy solutions to Seoul’s “considerable but ineffective” birth rate spending. Economically, they face near-identical threats from US auto tariffs, driving calls for joint lobbying.
Security cooperation remains pivotal. Trilateral military drills with the US expanded to counter North Korean threats, and Japan explored maintaining South Korea’s F-35 jets, a symbol of trust eroded by Seoul’s political upheavals. Notably, 49.6% of South Koreans now prioritise future-oriented cooperation over historical disputes, suggesting shifting public attitudes.
