Pro-Korean Hatoyama Former Prime Minister: "Japan's Position That Declaration of End of War Is Premature Is a Very Wrong Judgment"

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama lit a candle at the Shinto memorial service held in front of the ear tomb in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, on the afternoon of the 8th.
The ear tomb is the burial site of ears of Joseon soldiers and civilians, which were cut off and brought by Japanese commanders or soldiers during the Imjin War to prove their war achievements. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, known as a 'pro-Korean,' criticized the view that a declaration to end the Korean War is 'premature,' calling it a "very wrong judgment."

On the 8th, attending a memorial event at the Imjin War gravesite in Tsuyama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan, former Prime Minister Hatoyama stated, "There is no doubt that Japan is one of the countries with a very large responsibility for the division of the Korean Peninsula," and added, "It is very regrettable that the Japanese government said that a declaration to end the war is premature."

He pointed out, "Even the United States has not clearly taken a stance, so why should Japan say it is premature?"

Earlier, Japanese media reported that during a meeting last month in Washington DC between Noh Kyu-duk, head of the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Peace Negotiation Division for the Korean Peninsula, Sung Kim, U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy at the State Department, and Takehiro Funakoshi, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau at the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Funakoshi expressed that a declaration to end the war was 'premature' citing North Korea’s missile test launches.

Regarding this report, the Japanese government has shown an attitude of not disclosing details, stating it is a diplomatic matter.

Additionally, former Prime Minister Hatoyama addressed issues such as the Japanese military’s comfort women and forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, saying that the response should be with a "mind of infinite responsibility," not an attitude of "once apologized, never apologize again," and stated, "If you always keep a heart of apology, the other side will eventually forgive you." He also mentioned that, contrary to the Japanese government’s claim that the Korea-Japan claims issue has been resolved, "individual claims have not yet been settled."

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