日韓併合談話 未来志向の両国関係に弾みを

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 12, 2010)
Kan statement a fillip for Japan-S. Korea ties
日韓併合談話　未来志向の両国関係に弾みを（8月11日付・読売社説）

The government adopted a statement by the prime minister at a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, ahead of the Aug. 29 centenary of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula.
　政府は、日韓併合１００年の「首相談話」を閣議決定した。

In the statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed "deep remorse" and "heartfelt apology" for "the tremendous damage and suffering caused during the period of colonial rule." The statement was basically in line with one then Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama made to Asian countries in 1995 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.
　談話は「植民地支配がもたらした多大の損害と苦痛」に対し「痛切な反省と心からのお詫(わ)びの気持ち」を表明した。戦後５０年に当たる１９９５年に発表された村山首相談話の内容を踏襲したものだ。

Kan's statement touched on the 1919 Samil independence movement on the peninsula, saying the Korean people's "ethnic pride was deeply scarred by the colonial rule which was imposed against their will"--an expression that went further than previous statements.
　三・一独立運動にも言及し、韓国の人々は「その意に反して行われた植民地支配」により「民族の誇りを深く傷付けられ」たと、踏み込んだ表現も盛り込まれた。

However, Kan made no mention of compensation, making clear the government's position that this issue has already been resolved remains unchanged. We think the government's stance is correct.
　補償問題には一切触れられておらず、この問題を決着済みとする従来の政府の立場に変更はない。当然のことだ。

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Looking ahead

Meanwhile, the statement stressed the need to build a future-oriented relationship between Japan and South Korea. This was an appropriate proposal.
　その上で、未来志向の日韓関係の構築を強調するなど、妥当な内容と言えよう。

Kan later telephoned South Korean President Lee Myung Bak to explain the details of the statement. Lee reportedly welcomed the statement, saying it would help strengthen bilateral cooperation.
　菅首相から電話で談話の説明を受けた李明博大統領は、「より強い協力関係を築くことが出来る」と歓迎の意向を示したという。

An attached accord to the Japan-South Korea Basic Relations Treaty signed in 1965 stipulated that both governments would waive their right to demand compensation and that Japan would provide South Korea with loan assistance and grants-in-aid worth 500 million dollars in total.
　１９６５年の日韓基本条約締結の際、日韓両政府は共に請求権を放棄し、日本が韓国に有償・無償５億ドルの経済支援を行う旨を定めた協定を結んだ。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku said at a press conference that Kan's statement was written on the premise that individual compensation claims and the right to demand compensation for Japan's colonial rule have been settled.
　仙谷官房長官は記者会見で、首相談話について「個人補償、請求権については決着済みという前提に立って作成した」と述べた。

Last month, Sengoku stirred up the compensation issue when he said the government should draw up political principles by which to make decisions on the matter.
　だが、先月には補償に関して、「政治的な方針を作り、判断しなければならない」などと含みのある発言をしていた。

Members of ruling and opposition parties quickly jumped down Sengoku's throat. They argued it was inappropriate for the government's top spokesperson to make such a statement on the compensation issue, which was settled decades ago.
　これに対し、両国間で解決済みの補償にかかわる談話を出すのは問題だとして、与野党内から強い反発や不満が出ていた。

Sengoku should not have made these inconsiderate remarks, which could have opened the door to misunderstanding at home and abroad.
仙谷長官は、内外に誤解を招くような不用意な発言は慎むべきだった。

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Govt must stand firm

Kan's statement could rekindle calls in South Korea for compensation for Koreans forced to work as so-called comfort women and laborers by the Imperial Japanese Army during the colonial period.
　今回の首相談話により、韓国国内で元「従軍慰安婦」などに対する補償を要求する声が再燃する可能性もある。

However, the Japanese government should firmly maintain its position that South Korea no longer has the right to demand compensation. We urge the South Korean side to react calmly.
　しかし、新たな請求権は認めないとする日本政府の立場は堅持すべきだ。韓国側には冷静な対応を求めたい。

Kan's statement also proposed that several precious documents brought from the Korean Peninsula to Japan during the period of Japanese rule be transferred back. The Japanese government has such documents as the Joseon Wangsil Uigwe (Royal Protocols of the Joseon Dynasty).
　植民地時代に日本に渡り、日本政府が保管する朝鮮王朝ゆかりの「朝鮮王朝儀軌」などの図書を韓国に引き渡すことも決まった。

About 60,000 cultural properties were confirmed to have been brought to Japan from the Korean Peninsula during the period of colonial rule.
　植民地時代に朝鮮から日本に渡った文化財は、確認されただけでも約６万点に上る。

Japan has no obligation to transfer these artifacts. But the government apparently hopes handing over cultural properties sought by South Korea will help reconcile old wounds between the two nations.
　日本側に引き渡す義務はないが、韓国側から要望のあった文化財を譲渡することで、和解を進める狙いがあると見られる。

The government should take Japan-South Korea relations to the next level, including in the fields of economy and culture as well as personnel exchanges. Kan's statement is a golden opportunity to make a fresh start.
　首相談話を契機にして、経済、文化、人的交流などを含め、今後の日韓関係に弾みをつけることが肝要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11, 2010)
（2010年8月11日01時14分 読売新聞）