Asahi Shimbun: A Seoul court will reopen proceedings in a lawsuit by former “comfort women” seeking a combined 3 billion won (280 million yen, or $2.7 million) from the Japanese government in compensation for their ordeal. Asahi Shimbun: A South…
Dong-A Ilbo: “South Korea has proposed to the leaders of East Asia that we all work closely to ensure high levels of quarantine and security during the two upcoming Olympic games in 2021, Tokyo, and in 2022, Beijing,” said South…
Kyodo News: “South Korean President Moon Jae In wants to mend relations with Japan that have been frayed by a dispute over wartime labor, Seoul’s spy chief told Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Tuesday.” Chosun Ilbo: “National Intelligence Service…
Global Times: “The spirit of CPV soldiers resisting US aggression in Korean War inspires generations of Chinese people” Global Times: “CPV soldiers confident in young Chinese generations inheriting their spirit” Global Times: “Gala to mark the 70th anniversary of the…
“Families of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea have called for U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to fulfill the promises made by incumbent President Donald Trump in realizing the return of their loved ones.”
The Korea Herald: “A Japanese diplomat arrived in Seoul on Wednesday for talks with his South Korean counterparts amid a prolonged row between the two countries over Tokyo’s wartime forced labor and export curbs.” The Korea Herald: “The Ministry of…
Korean boy band BTS makes controversial remarks over Korean War: Chosun Ilbo: “Chinese online warriors are peeved at remarks by a member of super boy band Bangtan Boys, also known as BTS, at an award ceremony promoting Korean-American relations.” The…
The Telegraph: “The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers who died in the 1950-53 Korean War were returned to China on Sunday in an annual repatriation delayed this year by the coronavirus outbreak.” Xinhua News: “The remains of 117 Chinese soldiers…
Korea Joong Ang Daily: They ate with the French. Fought with the French. Rested in the same barracks as the French. They just didn’t speak French. “We did everything together, eat, train, fight in battles, wield the same weapons, wear the…
Coverage over the recent unveiling of a statue commemorating ‘comfort women’ in Berlin: DW Akademie: “A Korean citizens’ group is aiming to raise awareness of women forced to work in military brothels with a new memorial. But Japan has said…
Chosun Ilbo: “Gov’t Kept Mum About N.Korean Slaughter of S.Korean” The Japan Times: “Kim says sorry for killing of South Korean over coronavirus fears” The Straits Times: “North Korean leader Kim Jong Un offers rare apology for killing of South…
“The anti-Korean hashtag #CancelKorea is trending in the Philippines after a storm in a teacup involving a tattoo and a local ‘influencer.'”
Over the summer, there have been several developments on historical issues affecting South Korea-Japan relations. From Japanese UNESCO sites to wartime workers, here are a selection of stories providing an overview of recent changes. Chosunilbo: “Cheong Wa Dae is bristling…
“South Korean President Park Geun-Hye muted her criticism of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s war anniversary statement, mindful that she needs to improve her country’s relations with Japan.”
“South Korea and Japan held their first high-level security talks in more than five years on Tuesday, despite simmering tensions over territorial and historical disputes. Resuming the “two plus two” talks, which include the two nations’ foreign and defense officials,…
“The National Assembly adopted a resolution Tuesday, denouncing Japan’s repeated claims to South Korea’s easternmost islets of Dokdo. The resolution passed with 181 votes out of 182 in the plenary session. It was drafted and approved last week by a…
“Despite strained relations over territorial disagreements and historical disputes, South Korea and Japan will resume security talks this week. These talks are not so much a sign the two neighbors are resolving longstanding differences but instead a recognition that they…
“South Korean Prime Minister Lee Wan-Koo on Thursday warned Japan it would face a “grim judgement” if it failed to address what he called the realities of history.”
“Japan on Tuesday rebuffed neighbouring countries’ protests about newly approved textbooks after complaints about references to disputed territory and their bitter shared history. The education ministry announced on Monday that all 18 new social studies textbooks for use in junior high…
The Korean government will “give teaching materials on sexual slavery instigated by the Japanese military during World War II to elementary, middle and high school teachers this month. Theses materials will help students better understand the sex slavery issue and…
“South Korea on Tuesday denounced Japan’s yearly diplomatic paper as “history-regressive,” as the Japanese government repeated its territorial claims to Dokdo islets, called Takeshima in Japan. “Today, it (the Japanese government) repeated its history- regressive action by presenting to the…
“South Korean President Park Geun-hye is not expected to attend Russia’s World War II victory anniversary celebration next month, an event North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is scheduled to show up at. Instead, Park will dispatch a special envoy to Moscow,…
“Japan, China and South Korea briefly put aside territorial and historical disputes on Sunday for rare trilateral talks announcing a bid to boost tourism numbers in the three countries to 30 million visitors in five years… The meeting — the first…