AJISS-Commentary
The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies
IIPS

RIPSInstitute for International

The Japan Institute ofResearch Institute for

Policy Studies

International Affairs

Peace and Security

Editorial Advisory Board:

No. 185

Akio Watanabe (Chair)
Masashi Nishihara
Yoshiji Nogami
Taizo Yakushiji

12 September 2013

Editorial Committee:
Taizo Yakushiji
Hisayoshi Ina
Tsutomu Kikuchi
Shujiro Urata andToshiro Iijima

STRATEGY SHARING RATHER THAN
REFLECTION SHARING (2): A
PRINCIPLE FOR PROACTIVE
RELATIONS WITH KOREA(PART 2 OF 2)

Editor & Online Publisher:
Yoshji Nogami
President, JIIA

Kazuo Ogoura

Viewed in such a historical perspective, the current
tension between the two countries can be said tobe deeper than it appears at first sight. In otherwords the Takeshima issue and the comfort women
problem are symbols of an underlying tension or apotential source of tension rather than its realcause. If this is the case, the two countries should
go deeper and wider in their efforts to promotedialogue.

The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and should
not be attributed to The Association of Japanese Institutes ofStrategic Studies.

AJISS-CommentaryThe Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies

Firstly, the top leaders should agree in a declaration that, whateverproblems lie between the two countries and however strained the political or
diplomatic climate surrounding them is, the two countries should refrain fromshutting the door of political communication by cancelling scheduled meetings orrefusing to meet each other. To use the refusal of communication as a means ofexpressing displeasure or protest is similar to the childish behaviour of sulking
and the image of the two countries in the international community is likely to betarnished.
One may point out, however, that the historical complexities of thebilateral relations and the resulting national sentiment regarding each othercannot preclude such refusals of communication as means to manifest politicaldetermination. In order to cope with such a difficulty, the two countries should
establish a wise men’s forum that would meet with flexibility to discuss affairs
and recommend ideas to cope with existing or potential problems. This forum, orat least a part of the discussions in this forum, should be open to the public andparticipants should have dialogue not only with members of the forum but alsowith representatives of various professional groups and young people.
Secondly, Japan and the ROK should more deeply and widely recognize
each other as countries that share fundamental politico-economic values. In
order to make it clearer in the eyes of the general public, several fora should beestablished to share views and policies on human rights, women’s social roles,
policies concerning the handicapped, social welfare and related problems ortasks. One might even suggest that the “comfort women” issue could be
discussed not as an issue of the past but as an issue related to human rights(therefore the question of Japanese victims could also be encompassed).
Thirdly we should intensify our policy coordination on a future vision of theKorean peninsula.

The so-called third track, which includes academics,

journalists and businessmen together with policy makers, should be more
effectively utilized or rejuvenated for discussing various alternative scenarios of
the future of the Korean Peninsula and the roles to be played by Japan and theUS.

http://www.jiia.or.jp/en/commentary2

AJISS-Commentary
The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies

In parallel with such efforts, the two governments should intensify
Japan-ROK dialogue on China on various levels. In promoting such a dialogue,
the important principle that the two countries should bear in mind is thatJapan-ROK relations should in no way become a political tool that politicians canutilize to maximize their domestic authority, and that they belong to the peoplesof the two countries.
In forming a vision for the future, we should not be concerned only withtensions and ways to surmount them. We should look at positive aspects of thetwo countries’ relations and foster those aspects further.
One area of such cooperation is our activities in internationalorganizations. We should intensify and regularize more consultation on eachother’s policies in various international organizations. Somewhat related to such
coordination, one should look into the vast area of economic cooperation or joint
endeavours between Japanese and Korean business companies in various
parts of the world. Japanese business leaders as well as related governmentorganizations could conduct surveys on on-going joint ventures or similar
endeavours and work out ways and means to promote such activities.
With such a spirit in mind, Japan and the ROK could, for example, workout joint sightseeing programmes to attract third-country tourists to the Far East.
Governments and business circles could also discuss some joint large-scalebusiness projects on an international scale, such as joint storage of oil oragricultural products, the development of ocean fish farms or the construction ofundersea tunnels across the strait. Only if the two countries share a vision of thefuture and engage themselves in concrete joint endeavours and put theirrelations in the wider global context will they be able to be freed from the chainsof the past.
Even if Japan wishes to implement the above-described policies, theROK, at least for the time being, may not be particularly responsive to such
Japanese initiatives, due to the constraints of national sentiment or politicalreasons.
Then how can Japan try to induce Korea? Basically Japan should form
more clearly its own mid-term strategy towards China and the Korean peninsula
http://www.jiia.or.jp/en/commentary3

AJISS-Commentary
The Association of Japanese Institutes of Strategic Studies

and convey its thoughts to Korea. In parallel with such a path, Japan should
reinvigorate its own economy and realize political stability. Then, on that basis, it
should engage itself in the task of improving Japan-China relations.
In other words, Japan should situate its policies towards the ROK within awider international strategy and convey its policies to the ROK. “The farthest way
about is the nearest way home” (isogaba-maware, in Japanese) ― this shouldbe the motto for dealing with Korean issues.

Kazuo Ogoura is former Japanese Ambassador to the Republic of Korea andcurrently Special Guest Professor at Aoyama Gakuin University and Ritsumeikan
University.

http://www.jiia.or.jp/en/commentary4