韓国大統領発言 日韓関係の停滞化を懸念する

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 17, 2012)
Lee's remarks could paralyze Japan-South Korea relations
韓国大統領発言　日韓関係の停滞化を懸念する（8月16日付・読売社説）

No matter how much South Korea stresses it wants a "future-oriented" relationship with Japan, Seoul's diplomacy toward Tokyo always hits a snag due to historical perceptions and territorial issues.
　どんなに「未来志向」を強調しようとも、結局、歴史認識問題や領土問題で、対日外交が暗礁に乗り上げる。

It seems that South Korean President Lee Myung Bak was unable to escape from this pattern, which has been repeated by his country's previous administrations.
　韓国の歴代政権が繰り返したパターンから、李明博大統領も逃れることはできなかったということだろう。

Following his visit to the Takeshima islands last week, Lee indicated Tuesday that an apology from the bottom of the Emperor's heart to independence activists is a condition for the Emperor to visit South Korea.
　先週の竹島訪問に次いで、今度は、「独立運動家への心からの謝罪」が天皇陛下の訪韓の条件だとする李大統領の発言である。

We have to say Lee's remark is unbecoming to the head of a Japanese ally.
　友邦の国家元首らしからぬ言動と言わざるを得ない。

We are concerned that the Japan-South Korea relationship, which cooled due to Lee's Takeshima visit, will deteriorate further and the estrangement will be prolonged.
　大統領の竹島上陸で冷え込んだ日韓関係が一段と悪化し、それが長期化することも懸念される。

It is very irresponsible for Lee, who has only six months left in his term, to commit himself with words and actions that could create problems for the future bilateral relationship.
　あと半年しか任期が残っていない大統領が、日韓関係の将来に禍根を残すような言動をとるのは、無責任に過ぎよう。

After Japan and South Korea normalized diplomatic relations in 1965, former South Korean presidents, starting with Chun Doo Hwan in 1984, visited Japan and met with the Emperor. In 1990, Seoul formally invited the Emperor to visit South Korea.
　１９６５年の日韓国交正常化以降、韓国の大統領は、８４年の全斗煥氏を最初に、歴代、日本を訪れ、天皇陛下と会っている。９０年には天皇訪韓を公式に招請した。

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President changes tune

Lee himself invited the Emperor to visit his country while he was on an official visit to Japan in 2008. He also showed eagerness to realize the Emperor's visit to South Korea in 2010, the centennial year of Japan's annexation of Korea.
　李大統領自身、２００８年の来日時に訪韓を招請した。日韓併合から１００年にあたる１０年の訪韓実現へ意欲を見せてもいた。

It has been reported that Lee went so far as to say during a meeting with a group of schoolteachers, "The Emperor doesn't need [to visit South Korea] if he is coming just to express his 'deepest regret.'" Lee was apparently referring to a term used by the Emperor at a banquet at the Imperial Palace for then South Korean President Roh Tae Woo during his visit to Japan 22 years ago.
　李大統領は、教員らとの会合で、「『痛惜の念』という言葉だけなら（天皇訪韓の）必要はない」とまで述べたという。２２年前、当時の盧泰愚大統領が来日した時の、宮中晩さん会における陛下のお言葉を指したものだ。

The side that invited the Emperor set a condition afterward and said he does not need to come if the condition is not met. Such an attitude is extremely impolite.
　招いた方が、後になって条件をつけ、それが満たされないなら来る必要はない、というのはあまりにも礼を失している。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said Lee's remark was "hard to understand and regrettable." Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura said, "Making unconstructive remarks goes against South Korea's own interests."
　野田首相は「理解に苦しむ発言で、遺憾だ」と述べ、藤村官房長官も「韓国側が非建設的な発言をすることは韓国自身のためにもならない」と指摘した。

It is only natural that the Japanese government lodged a protest with the South Korean government.
日本政府が韓国に抗議したのは当然だ。

It is desirable for the Emperor's visit to South Korea to be realized in a way that it can be accepted naturally by the people of the two countries. As a result, there is no option but to shelve a possible visit by the Emperor to South Korea for the time being.
　天皇訪韓は、両国民によって自然に受け止められるような形で実現することが望ましい。
　それなら、天皇訪韓問題は、当面、棚上げにするしかない。

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'Comfort women' issue settled

In a speech Wednesday during a ceremony to commemorate Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, Lee reiterated his demand that the Japanese government take "responsible measures" on the issue of so-called comfort women.
　李大統領は１５日には、日本の植民地支配からの解放を記念する式典で演説し、いわゆる従軍慰安婦問題で「責任ある措置」をとるよう、改めて日本に求めた。

Against the backdrop of South Korean public opinion, Lee has urged Noda to apologize to victims and pay compensation. But as far as the right to claim compensation is concerned, it was fully and finally settled when the two countries normalized diplomatic ties.
　韓国の世論を背景に、大統領が被害者への謝罪や補償などを野田首相に促してきた経緯があるが、請求権問題についていえば、国交正常化の際に、すでに完全かつ最終的に解決ずみだ。

When it comes to territorial and comfort women issues, Japan and South Korea must calmly discuss history based on accurate facts.
　領土問題にせよ、慰安婦問題にせよ、日韓両国は、正確な事実関係を踏まえた冷静な歴史論議をしなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2012)
（2012年8月16日02時35分 読売新聞）