A New Era for Korea - Japan Cooperation : With Focus on the Situation of the Korean Peninsula

Abstract

The Republic of Korea and Japan are situated cheek by jowl, separated only by the narrow stretch of the Korea Strait. In 1965 the two countries normalized formal diplomatic relations, ending a period of unfortunate relations. Yet, each has persistency tended to regard the other as a "remote next-door neighbor." This feeling of remoteness in spite of their geographical proximity is a residual reflection of their unfortunate past marked by Japanese colonial occupation of Korea for 36 years More recently it may be also attributed to apparent differences between the peoples of the nations in their views and perceptions toward each other. Even after their relations were normalized two dccades after Korea's liberation, quite a few thomy, and sometimes controversial, bilateral issues cropped up. These included the issue of the continental shelf; the abduction of Kim Dae-Jung; the attempted assassination of the late President Park Chung Hee and killing of Mrs. Park by Moon Se-Kwang, a Korean expatriate from Japan; the fishery issue; and the issue of the status of Korean residents in Japan. More recently, there has arisen a controversy because some of the Japanese history textbooks were rewritten to tome down Japan's armed aggression of Korea and China. Further, Korea's steep trade deficit with Japan remains a major pending issue.