The centerpiece of the Korea-Japan summit yesterday was bilateral economic cooperation, and President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda sidestepped sensitive issues concerning Korea’s colonial past.

In addition to the currency swap deal, the two leaders discussed other issues, including North Korea’s nuclear arms programs and efforts to deepen bilateral relations. Conspicuously missing, however, were such thorny topics as Japan’s claim over the Dokdo islets and Seoul’s renewed request to negotiate compensation for Korea’s “comfort women,” or victims of wartime sex slavery by Japan.

During a press conference held after the summit, Lee said he and Noda agreed that the two countries’ close cooperation is key to Northeast Asia’s peace and prosperity and urged the North to give up its nuclear arms programs as soon as possible.

Noda said he appreciated Lee’s support for Japan’s efforts to resolve the issue of Japanese citizens kidnapped by the North, adding that he agrees to maintain close cooperation among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo to demand Pyongyang show some tangible action toward denuclearization.

The future relationship for the two neighboring nations was also discussed. Anti-Japanese sentiment still runs deep in Korea over Japan’s colonial rule.

“I have mentioned multiple times that stepping forward for the future without forgetting history is the basis of the Korea-Japan relationship,” Lee said. “I stressed that Japan’s active efforts are necessary to resolve issues linked with the two countries’ past.”

Noda admitted that the two countries “unfortunately have some difficulties at some times,” but promised to work together with Korea “to build a foundation for long-term cooperation with a wide perspective to avoid deterioration of the relationship.”

Asked about the sensitive issue of compensating Korea’s comfort women, Noda said the issue was not discussed during the summit meeting.

Up to 200,000 women, mostly Koreans, were forced into sexual slavery at front-line Japanese brothels during World War II. After the Constitutional Court ruled this summer that it was unconstitutional for the Korean government to make no specific efforts to settle the issue with Japan, the Lee administration made a proposal Sept. 15 to hold bilateral talks to discuss compensation.

The proposal, however, was turned down by Tokyo, and Seoul formally raised the issue at a United Nations meeting in New York earlier this month.

In an interview with the JoongAng Ilbo on Monday, Noda reiterated that the issue was resolved by a compensation agreement reached in 1965. “It is as it is,” he said.

Lee also said at the press conference that thorny issues between the countries make it difficult for him to accept Japan’s invitation for a state visit.


By Ser Myo-ja [myoja@joongang.co.kr]