[Excerpt: "There could be a hard diplomatic war ... that may reduce exchanges in various sectors and cause economic difficulty," Roh said in a statement posted on the presidential office website...."But we do not have to worry much about it ... we are determined to take the hardship on our shoulders if we really have to."]
Wednesday March 23, 8:52 PM South Korea's leader speaks of "diplomatic war" against Japan http://sg.news.yahoo.com/050323/1/3rg67.html President Roh Moo-Hyun has raised the stakes in a heated dispute with Japan, urging South Koreans to prepare for "diplomatic war" with their neighbour. Anger over Japan's claim to a remote group of islets controlled by South Korea has stoked South Korean enmity against its former colonial power in recent weeks. Roh added fuel to the flames Wednesday by accusing Tokyo of failing to make amends for historic wrongs against Koreans. He also attacked Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi for his continued visits to a shrine for Japanese war dead despite protests by Seoul and Beijing. The South Korean leader called on citizens to prepare to sacrifice economic and other exchanges with Japan. "There could be a hard diplomatic war ... that may reduce exchanges in various sectors and cause economic difficulty," Roh said in a statement posted on the presidential office website. "But we do not have to worry much about it ... we are determined to take the hardship on our shoulders if we really have to." The dispute has dealt a potentially fatal blow to official efforts to mark 2005 as a year of Japan-South Korea friendship. Already protestors have burned Japanese flags and one man torched himself outside the Japanese embassy here. An elderly woman and her middle-aged son amputated their little fingers in another protest. Three weeks ago, Roh called for an apology and compensation from Japan for its harsh rule of South Korea from 1910-1945. He said at the time that he did not intend to raise the issue at a diplomatic level because he wanted to avoid damaging ties. No apology came from Koizumi, who suggested that the South Korean president was under pressure from the local media angry over a claim by Japan's Shimane prefecture to the group of islets, called Dokdo in Korean and Takeshima in Japan. Shimane prefecture declared February 22 "Takeshima Day," to mark the day the small group of volcanic rocks were absorbed into the prefecture in 1905. Roh accused Japan of "justifying its past invasion" of Korea through the renewed claims to the islets and through its continued publication of textbooks whitewashing its brutal rule of Korea. "This is an act of justifying its past invasion and denying Korea's independence," Roh said. Coupled with Koizumi's visits to the shrine, the facts showed that Tokyo was unrepentant, Roh said. "As an apology requires sincere reflection and corresponding actions, Prime Minister Koizumi's visits to the shrine undermine the sincerity of reflection and apology made by former Japanese leaders," Roh said. New school textbooks currently under review in Japan gloss over Tokyo's wartime atrocities and invasion of Korea to such an extent that they constitute "an act of justifying its history of aggression," Roh said. Tokyo has repeatedly expressed regret at Japan's wartime past while urging South Korea, China and other Asian neighbours to focus on "forward-looking" relations instead of history. After Shimane prefecture adopted its ordinance supporting its claim to Dokdo, Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura said Tokyo understood the anger of South Koreans. "We need to recognize humbly the historical fact that our country inflicted tremendous damage and sufferings to the peoples of Asia, and have deep understanding and sympathy for the South Korean people's feeling," he said. However, the apology apparently fell short of Roh's expectations. "These are acts of nullifying all of the reflection and apology Japan has made so far," Roh said. Roh suggested that Tokyo would have to resolve past issues with its neighbours before it could adopt a wider world role. South Korea opposes Japan's drive to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. enditem ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~--> Take a look at donorschoose.org, an excellent charitable web site for anyone who cares about public education! http://us.click.yahoo.com/_OLuKD/8WnJAA/cUmLAA/TySplB/TM --------------------------------------------------------------------~-> -------------------------- Want to discuss this topic? Head on over to our discussion list, [EMAIL PROTECTED] -------------------------- Brooks Isoldi, editor [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.intellnet.org Post message: [email protected] Subscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** FAIR USE NOTICE. This message contains copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. 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