Important announcement of both countries
South Korea’s president has announced that he is dropping a demand that Japanese companies were seeking to compensate Korean victims of forced labor during World War II. This announcement is being termed as the most important moment so far. In lieu of this announcement, it was announced by Japan’s Ministry of Trade that it is ending the sanctions imposed on South Korean technology companies since 2019. It has not been told by the ministry that when and on what date these restrictions will be removed. But this announcement is being termed as a big step towards the normalization of relations between the two countries.
why the relationship was bad
The first step towards Japan was taken by the President of South Korea, Yoon Sok Yeol. Both Japan and South Korea have been neighbors but their history is complicated. South Korea was occupied by Japan from 1910 until the end of World War II. At that time, Japanese soldiers forced thousands of Korean laborers to work in mines and factories. At that time, the Japanese army made women sexual slaves.
These wounds were always painful for South Korea. South Korea always said that it would neither forget these wounds nor forgive Japan. But last week, South Korean President Yeon Suk Yeol dropped the demand for compensation. He agreed that South Korea would collect funds instead of compensation.
Masterstroke by Yole, a lawyer by profession
The purpose of being close to Japan and South Korea is the security of North East Asia. South Korean diplomats and experts are surprised by Yeol’s visit but they are also happy. They are calling it a courageous step. Interestingly, the President of South Korea does not have any political experience. He has been a lawyer by profession but his antics have left everyone stunned. Last year he took over as the President. This conference has become the most important moment for him since he took office. In this way, he has given a new place to the foreign policy which was on the edge by breathing life into a broken relationship.
China and North Korea are the reason
North Korea equipped with nuclear capability is becoming dangerous day by day. Yol believes that South Korea will only benefit from sharing intelligence with Japan. Apart from this, China is also strengthening its hold in the region. The armies of both the countries will also work together now. Yol also wants to please America, one of its important allies. America is currently making desperate efforts to bring its allies closer to counter China’s growing strength. President Joe Biden described Yole’s Japan summit as ‘a tremendous new chapter’. It was only after this conference that an invitation to the White House was sent to Yol by Biden.