Korean Courage to Deal with Japan

Anti-Japanese sentiment in Korea is negatively affecting the economies and security of South Korea and Japan, with strategic implications for Asia and the United States. South Koreans passionately protest when Japanese politicians make insensitive remarks about history or claim the Korean-controlled island of Dokdo as Takeshima. However, anti-Japanese sentiment is inhibiting cooperation with Tokyo that is clearly in South Korea's interests, including a recently scuppered intelligence-sharing agreement. Seoul needs Tokyo's help with North Korea, whether for conflict contingencies or for moving toward or realizing peaceful unification. Problems in Seoul-Tokyo relations concern Washington in the area of loss of security-enhancing, cost-saving trilateral coordination. Korean and Japanese shared values for human rights, economic freedom, democracy, and the rule of law can support further economic and functional cooperation. South Korea's interests would be served by showing leadership in resuming regular diplomacy in Northeast Asia and by emphasizing strategic cooperation rather than historical animosities.