Korea: South Korean Relations Develop with Complexity, Will North Korean Relations Start?

Abstract

Diplomatic relations between Japan and South Korea were established in 1965, 20 years after the Pacific War ended. This fact alone suggests the complexity of Japan-Korea relations. Although Korea is geographically the closest country to Japan, historically relations with Korea have been amongst the most complex and sensitive. This chapter discusses about five major issues of the negotiations. The first issue was how to reach a moral, legal and political reconciliation with the past, as well as how to reconcile the Cold War reality of the division between the North and the South. The second issue was related to the question of reparations. The third issue was the conclusion of the Agreement on Fisheries. The fourth issue was the status of Koreans resident in Japan. The fifth issue was the territorial issue regarding Takeshima, as we call it in Japan, and Dokdo as it is called in Korea.Keywords: Japan; negotiations; South Korea; Takeshima