South Korea announced on Monday a plan to compensate South Korean victims of forced labor during the war in Japan, with which Seoul wants to strengthen ties amid tensions with North Korea.
South Korea and Japan are key US regional security allies vis-à-vis North Korea. But bilateral relations have long been strained by Japan’s occupation of the Korean Peninsula from 1910 to 1945.
According to data provided by Seoul, about 780,000 Koreans were conscripted into forced labor by Japan during the 35-year occupation, not including women forced into sexual slavery by Japanese troops.
South Korean Foreign Minister Park Jin announced the creation of a South Korean foundation to compensate victims and families without the direct involvement of Japan.
“I hope that Japan will respond positively to our important decision today, with voluntary contributions from Japanese companies and a full apology,” he said.
Tokyo insists that a 1965 treaty, which allowed the two countries to restore diplomatic relations and obtain around $800 million (€752 million) in reparations in the form of subsidies and soft loans, settled all claims between the two countries.
The new plan by the Seoul government calls for the creation of a local foundation that will accept donations from large South Korean companies – which benefited from Japanese reparations in 1965 – to compensate the victims.
The minister said the landmark deal was essential to improve ties between Tokyo and Seoul.
“Korea-Japan cooperation is very important in all areas of diplomacy, economy and security, in the current context of serious international situation and difficult global crisis,” he explained.
The Japanese counterpart also said in Tokyo today that the plan announced by South Korea will help “restore healthy relations” with Japan.
The United States also welcomed the “historic announcement” from Seoul, with US diplomacy chief Anthony Blinken praising the “courage and vision” of the Japanese and South Korean governments, according to a statement.
Seoul and Tokyo are “two of the United States’ most important allies, and we are inspired by the work being done to advance bilateral relations,” added the US Secretary of State.
Source: TSF
