ORDER A GLASS of Asahi lager in a pub in Seoul these days and chances are the bartender will shake his head disapprovingly before suggesting one of the watery local alternatives. Shopkeepers have relegated Japanese products to the bottom shelf or removed them from view altogether. Owners of sushi restaurants have put up signs stressing that though their dishes may look Japanese, the fish was caught in Korean waters.
The spat between South Korea and Japan has little to do with such present-day threats and everything with chronic historical grievances, notably over Japan’s annexation of Korea and the suffering inflicted on its people during the war. It turned acute last year, when South Korea’s supreme court ruled that Japanese companies that used South Koreans as forced labour during the war should pay compensation to the surviving victims.
American officials say they have been taken aback. The State Department issued a rare public rebuke of the South Korean government. But many observers believe the escalation could have been avoided if America had shown more interest earlier on. President Donald Trump has called on the two allies to “get along”, but done precious little to mediate in the dispute, complaining that he has too much on his plate already. Meanwhile, he has continued to shrug off Mr Kim’s weapons tests.
The erosion of trust is more serious. “This is a fight between friends that will only benefit actual antagonists such as North Korea,” says Park Cheol-hee of Seoul National University. The move is also likely to put South Korea on the back foot in negotiations about how to divide the cost of hosting American troops in the country, and reduce its standing in the eyes of the world, believes Chun In-bum, a former South Korean army general.
lol, so the USA should be involved with every single disagreement between countries of the world, it is none of our business
😂✅☺️😂 trump ‘“get along”. Is this a joke ? How would he know what get along looks like?
Thank! God!
You mean like Obama telling the Russians to “Knock it off” on trying to influence our elections. He actually told the FBI to stand down on their work.
Just setting up preconditions.
Honestly, the best thing he can do is not try to help, or at least insult both countries equally so they can unite in their hatred of him.
Damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t... the state of FakeNewsMedia
amazing how grown ups r squabbling abt little rock island in d sea of Japan
lol 'Play nice, boys'
🙀
Grudge? Read some history.
Who would win
This old grudge from the WW2 should have been settled amicably. It's always in the best interest of Japan and South Korea to have a good military, trade, bilateral cooperation. It's time to bury the hatchet.
Historical foes who will only ally against a common enemy. Other than that, they aren’t friends.
Takeshima is indisputably an inherent part of the territory of Japan, in light of historical facts and based on international law.
Unfortunate. Two prosperous countries getting into meaningless conflict bad for world peace.
Donald Trump is an international leader in grudges and grievances. The rest of the world (perhaps also the rest of us?) eagerly follow his lead.
why
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