Korea - Japan relations nosedive over long-disputed islands - 18-Mar-05 - Generational Dynamics

Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Mar-05

Korea - Japan relations nosedive over long-disputed islands

2005 is supposed to be "Korea-Japan Friendship Year," to mark the 40th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.

However, 2005 is also the 100th anniversary of an event that's overshadowing everything else today: It was in 1905 that Japan invaded and colonized Korea. Japan retained control of Korea through WW II, and used Korean women as "comfort women" for Japanese soldiers during World War II.

Bitter feelings are exploding to the surface in South Korea this week, after Japan moved to claim ownership of two small islands between the countries. Korea calls them the Dokdo islands, and Japan calls them the Takeshima islands. Japan took control of the islands in 1905, at the same time it invaded Korea.

Dokdo or Takeshima Islands

Dokdo or Takeshima Islands

The South Korean government has warned Japan not to pursue their claim to the islands. However, feelings expressed "on the street" are much stronger.

Japanese living in Korea are feeling Korean anger and hostility, and are taking care not to aggravate their friends. At one Japanese school in Seoul, children are being warned not to speak Japanese aloud in public.

One Korean newspaper editorial refers to "Korea's moral superiority" and says that

"Japan has been taking a rapid turn to the right in the meantime, and now there are clear signs of a trend towards ultranationalism and militarism. The various provocations and [reckless comments] have become more frequent."

This is just one more situation in the North Asian region that appears to become increasingly unstable almost every day.

Earlier this week, China officially passed the anti-secession law, approving a military invasion of Taiwan if Taiwan moves toward independence. This law has infuriated even the moderate Taiwanese, who see it as offensive.

North Korea is still becoming increasingly bellicose, having said they have nuclear weapons and have no intention of returning to nuclear non-proliferation talks.

North Korea mobilized for war against America last April, and on Thursday, North Korea said that the U.S. has already entered a "real war" phase by sending an aircraft carrier into the region. The United States "has always dispatched carrier flotilla to waters off a certain country before launching a war of aggression," according to the country's news agency.

All of this is increasingly ominous. Every country always lays the groundwork for war by providing legal justifications. China has done that by passing the anti-secession law, and North Korea is doing that by accusing America of already having begun a war. Both countries are clearly preparing for preemptive war, with North Korea's preparations far more immediate.

Generational Dynamics predicts that North Korea will start a war to reunite South and North Korea under North Korean control, that China will start a war to return Taiwan to Chinese control, and that China and Korea will get revenge against Japan for the latter's actions prior to and during World War II. These wars could begin next week or next year, but they're coming with 100% certainty. (18-Mar-05) Permanent Link
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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Mar-05 Korea - Japan relations nosedive over long-disputed islands

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Generational Dynamics Web Log for 18-Mar-05
Korea - Japan relations nosedive over long-disputed islands