S. Korea Praised Japan’s 1995 War Statement: Records

Seoul, April 1 (Jiji Press)–South Korea praised Japan’s 1995 war statement expressing remorse and apology over its past colonial rule in Asia including the Korean Peninsula, newly disclosed diplomatic records have shown. The statement by then Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, issued on Aug. 15, 1995, to mark the 50th anniversary of his country’s surrender in World War II, was mentioned in the records, released by South Korea’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the records showed that Seoul gave a negative response to a parliamentary remark made later by Murayama that the 1910 treaty under which Japan annexed Korea was “legally valid.” The Murayama statement acknowledged Japan’s “colonial rule and aggression” and expressed his “deep remorse” and “heartfelt apology” over the damage and suffering caused to people in many countries including Asian neighbors. According to the records, the ministry welcomed the statement, saying that future-oriented relations of friendship and cooperation could be built only based on a correct perception of history. The ministry also said that it would closely monitor the Japanese government’s stance. The South Korean embassies in China and France reported to the ministry that the statement had been locally seen as a step forward, the records said. But in October 1995, Murayama made the parliamentary remark that the treaty was legally concluded. According to South Korean media reports, Seoul said that the annexation was invalid and canceled a summit with Japan in New York being arranged at that time. In response to a protest from the then ambassador to Japan, the then Japanese vice foreign minister said Murayama merely reiterated the conventional view of the government to answer a parliamentary question, according to the records. The vice minister added that there was no change in the feelings of remorse and apology expressed in the Murayama statement. In November the same year, Takami Eto, then head of the now-defunct Management and Coordination Agency, was reported to have said Japan also did good things to Koreans during the colonial rule. His comment fueled anger in South Korea. To ease tensions, Japan made a proposal to send then Foreign Minister Yohei Kono to South Korea, but the proposal was rejected, the records said. Eventually, Murayama sent a letter to then South Korean President Kim Young-sam to calm down the situation. The records also said that Japan hesitated at first to accept an offer of help from South Korea made following the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake that hit Kobe and other western Japan areas on Jan. 17, 1995. The Japanese Foreign Ministry asked for food and other aid from South Korea on Jan. 21. Kono expressed gratitude for the aid sent from the country. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]