日韓５０年式典 関係改善への転機にできるか

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Can both countries use this occasion as a turning point to improve ties?
日韓５０年式典　関係改善への転機にできるか

Can Japan and South Korea take this opportunity as a turning point to improve their chilled bilateral relations? The will and efforts of both countries will be closely watched.
　冷却化した日韓関係を改善するための転機とできるのか。双方の意志と努力が問われよう。

The governments of both countries on Monday held ceremonies in Seoul and Tokyo to commemorate the 50th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic relations.
　日韓両政府がソウルと東京で、国交正常化５０周年記念式典をそれぞれ開いた。

In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe emphasized, “Let us build a new era for our two countries together, while looking back at the 50 years of history of friendship and looking forward at the next 50 years.”
　安倍首相は東京で、「５０年の友好の歴史を振り返り、これからの５０年を展望し、両国の新たな時代を築いていこう」と強調した。

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in Seoul, “It is important to lay down the heavy burden of history issues ... As we seek to do so, our two countries can make a fresh start.”
　朴槿恵大統領はソウルで、「歴史問題という重荷を下ろすことが重要だ。両国がそうしたスタートをする時、新たな未来を切り開く」と語り、歴史問題に言及した。

Japan and South Korea have been recently in fierce conflict with each other over historical perceptions, including on the issue of so-called comfort women, and over the Takeshima islands. This spring, both countries were far from celebrating the 50th anniversary of normalizing bilateral ties.
　日韓両国は最近、慰安婦など歴史認識や竹島の問題で鋭く対立している。今春ごろは、５０周年を祝福するムードにほど遠かった。

Around the time when South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung Se’s visit to Japan was decided last week, momentum grew for both countries to compromise.
　先週、韓国の尹炳世外相の来日が決まった前後から、双方に歩み寄りの機運が高まった。

With the attendance of both Abe and Park, who did not initially plan to attend these ceremonies, both countries were able to call for mending bilateral ties and to transmit constructive messages both at home and abroad.
当初は予定になかった両首脳の式典出席で関係修復を演出し、前向きなメッセージも内外に発信できた。

Park has set solving the comfort women issue as the condition for holding summit talks with Abe. She has also engaged in “tale-telling diplomacy,” criticizing Japan’s historic perception in third countries.
　朴氏は、慰安婦問題の解決を首脳会談の条件に掲げる。第三国で日本の歴史認識を批判する「告げ口外交」も展開してきた。

Yet her adherence to history issues has only escalated anti-South Korean sentiment in Japan, while bringing about no positive results in the diplomacy of her country.
　だが、朴氏の歴史問題への固執は、日本の「嫌韓」感情を高めただけで、韓国外交に何の成果ももたらしていない。

Ball in Park’s court

It is quite reasonable that calls for Park to change her policy have grown even within South Korea, besides those coming from the United States.
米国に加え、韓国国内でも方針転換を求める声が高まっているのは当然である。

Taking advantage of the 50th anniversary to unload “the heavy burden of history issues,” Park should review her unyielding stance of pressing Japan alone to compromise unilaterally. Such a move on her part will benefit both countries.
　５０周年の節目を契機とし、「歴史問題という重荷」を下ろすため、日本だけに一方的な譲歩を求める朴氏の頑かたくなな姿勢を見直すことこそが日韓双方の利益となろう。

Prior to attending the ceremony, Abe held talks with Yun in Tokyo. During the talks, Abe told Yun: “We have various issues to tackle because we’re neighbors. It is important to hold candid talks with each other.” He thus showed his willingness to hold talks with Park.
　記念式典に先立ち、安倍首相は韓国の尹炳世外相と会談した。「隣国ゆえに様々な課題があるが、お互いに胸襟を開いて話し合うことが重要だ」と語り、朴氏との会談に意欲を示した。

Meanwhile, Park held talks with former Finance Minister Fukushiro Nukaga in Seoul, telling him that the two countries “must pursue trust in diplomacy while healing the wounds of the past.” She also said she will closely watch Abe’s statement to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
　朴氏はソウルで額賀福志郎・元財務相と会談し、「過去の傷を癒やしつつ、日韓の信頼外交を展開せねばならない」と語った。安倍首相の戦後７０年談話について「注目している」とも述べた。

Diplomatic authorities in both countries are discussing a plan to hold the first summit talks between Abe and Park, following the announcement of Abe’s statement in August, on the occasion of summit talks involving Japan, China and South Korea scheduled to be held this autumn in Seoul.
　日韓の外交当局は、８月の戦後７０年談話の発表後、今秋にもソウルで日中韓首脳会談を開くのに合わせて、初の日韓首脳会談を行う案などを検討している。

There are now many outstanding matters between Japan and South Korea, in addition to history and territorial issues. Included in the issues are a conclusion of an agreement on general security of military information, negotiations on a free trade accord, and South Korea’s import restrictions on Japan’s fishery products.
　日韓間には今、歴史や領土の問題に加え、多くの懸案がある。軍事情報包括保護協定の締結、自由貿易協定の交渉や、韓国の日本産水産物の輸入規制などだ。

Needless to say, a single instance of summit talks cannot dramatically improve the bilateral ties. But through a series of dialogues, the leaders of both countries will come up with ideas to advance diverse challenges. This is the role a national leader has to assume.
　無論、１回の首脳会談で関係が劇的に改善するわけではない。だが、対話を重ねる中で、様々な課題を進展させる知恵を出し合う。それが指導者の役割だろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23, 2015)