Despite US Mediation, Korea-Japan Relations Remain Tense, North Korea Denuclearization Issue Also Uncertain

[Asia Economy Reporters Inho Yoo, Jieun Lee, Chaeun Koo] The Joe Biden administration has repeatedly called for improved South Korea-Japan relations, but the two countries are instead moving toward confrontation over the Dokdo and comfort women issues.

On the 22nd, Japan went ahead with the 'Takeshima Day' (the name Japan uses for Dokdo) event, prompting the South Korean government to immediately demand its cancellation and summon the Japanese Consul General. Meanwhile, the National Assembly is preparing a resolution condemning the event, leaving no room for improvement in South Korea-Japan relations.

According to political circles on the 23rd, the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee is discussing strong countermeasures in response to Japan's insistence on holding Takeshima Day.

Kim Young-ho, the ruling party's secretary of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee and a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, said in a phone interview, "This is an issue that requires immediate response from the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee," adding, "We will prepare countermeasures, including proposing a resolution at the standing committee level."

The resolution will include calls for Japan to revoke the designation of Takeshima Day and to stop historical distortion.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also took a tough stance, stating it will not tolerate Japan's provocations. The day before, it summoned Soma Hirohisa, the Consul General of the Japanese Embassy in South Korea, to strongly protest and subsequently issued a statement under the spokesperson's name, calling the event a "pointless provocation regarding Dokdo" and urging its cancellation.

As recently as the 19th, there was a cooperative atmosphere between South Korea and Japan, including a high-level trilateral video conference on Korean Peninsula policy among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. However, within three days, relations have frozen again over the Dokdo issue.

Experts also analyze that despite the Biden administration's role as a mediator, the possibility of improving South Korea-Japan relations is currently low.

Lee Myeon-woo, Deputy Director of the Sejong Institute, said, "Unless the government makes a political decision on issues such as comfort women and forced labor, improving South Korea-Japan relations is bleak," adding, "South Korea's priority in Japan's diplomatic policy is gradually declining."

Not only South Korea-Japan relations but also the differences in approach between South Korea and the U.S. regarding North Korea policy are evident.

The Biden administration maintains a cooperative stance with allies and partners but sets the precondition of 'North Korea denuclearization first.' This contrasts with the Moon Jae-in administration's approach, which prioritized restarting the Korean Peninsula peace process through North Korea-U.S. or South Korea-North Korea-U.S. talks.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

In this context, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a virtual speech at the United Nations Disarmament Conference on the 22nd (local time), "The United States remains focused on North Korea's denuclearization and will work closely with allies and partners to address North Korea's illicit weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs." This reaffirmed the U.S.'s commitment to denuclearization and cooperation with allies on the international stage.

The issue is that the U.S. is unlikely to sit at the negotiating table unless North Korea takes denuclearization measures. The diplomatic and security team within the Biden administration, including Secretary Blinken, directly witnessed North Korea conducting its 3rd to 5th nuclear tests during the Obama administration.

In this context, it is widely expected that the Biden administration's North Korea policy, which has not yet been finalized, will adopt a pragmatic approach of 'denuclearization measures first, then dialogue' rather than 'strategic patience.'

An expert in diplomatic circles said, "The Biden administration is reviewing a comprehensive North Korea strategy but is likely to operate a two-track approach of incentives and additional sanctions," adding, "If North Korea does not take preemptive denuclearization measures, not only will dialogue be unlikely, but additional economic sanctions may also be imposed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.