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Subtle changes were detectable in Korea¡¯s attitude to Japan after Shinzo Abe was elected leader of the island country¡¯s ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Wednesday. Abe will become Japan's new prime minister on Sept. 26. Some in the government are reportedly considering a Seoul-Tokyo summit on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in November if the new prime minister shows more sensitivity toward Korean feelings in matters like visits to the militarist Yasukuni Shrine.
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Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe bows to parliamentarians of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) after he was chosen as party president at an LDP lawmaker¡¯s meeting, at party headquarters in Tokyo on Wednesday./REUTERS
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"The attitude Abe takes to the controversial shrine for the first one or two months after taking office will play a critical role in determining the relationship between Seoul and Tokyo in the future,¡± a government official here said. The government recently concluded that if the standoff between Seoul and Tokyo lasts much longer, it will hurt efforts to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem, and feels a summit with Japan would be feasible now that outgoing Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi¡¯s last visit on Korea¡¯s Independence Day is over and the shrine is less the spotlight.
¡°We hope that the launch of the new government in Japan serves as an opportunity to eliminate possible causes of conflict between the two nations and move forward with a future-oriented friendly relationship,¡± Vice Foreign Minister Lee Kyu-hyung told reporters Wednesday. Lee also strongly hinted that the government does not want the current standoff across the Straits of Korea to last for too long, saying, "Japan is a partner and valuable neighbor in building a community of peace and prosperity in the region.¡±
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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