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…
In late August, Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced he would be stepping down due to medical reasons. Abe’s resignation has led some to question how his successor would handle sensitive issues such as visits to the Yasukuni Shrine and…
“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,…
“Japan and the United States will likely include an explicit reference to defence of far-flung Japanese islands in an update of security cooperation guidelines amid concerns about China’s increasing military assertiveness, a Japanese newspaper reported.”
“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…
“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…
“On Apr. 7, the Japanese cabinet adopted a Diplomatic Bluebook for 2015 that deletes a phrase describing South Korea as sharing fundamental values such as “democracy and basic human rights” with Japan and includes a phrase about Dokdo being Japan’s…
“Manabisha, a Tokyo-based publishing company, will publish a middle-school history textbook for the first time that will include a passage about so-called comfort women, something that no other textbook currently in use mentions. The book was approved by the education…
“The acting chief of an expert panel on the World War II anniversary statement to be issued by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this summer said Friday it need not include the expressions “colonial rule and aggression” and “apology” used in…