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South Korea¡¯s ambassador to Japan on Thursday warned Seoul could withdraw support for Japan in negotiations with North Korea, including over the abduction of Japanese nationals by the North in the 1970s and 80s, due to Tokyo¡¯s renewed claim to the Dokdo islets. ¡°Seoul has traditionally given Japan a certain degree of support at the six-party talks, especially on the nuclear, missile, and abduction issues,¡± Kwon Chul-hyun said. But Seoul's position could change, ¡°if public opinion and political voices at home turn against cooperation with Tokyo.¡±
The Japanese government early this week published guidelines that effectively call on secondary schools to teach Japan¡¯s claim to Dokdo in class.
Kwon, who has been temporarily recalled over the matter, said the fallout was ¡°the worst thing" at a time when Japan needs South Korea's partnership in various international issues.
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A man protests in front of the Japanese Embassy in Jongno, Seoul against Japan¡¯s renewed claim to Korea¡¯s Dokdo islets. /Newsis
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Japan is refusing to pay for energy aid to the North unless the abduction issue is resolved, and South Korea has been sympathetic. But this is likely to change. "It seems the Japanese people are very worried about that possibility,¡± Kwon said.
Meanwhile, South Korea has declined Japan's suggestion for their foreign ministers to meet on the sidelines of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Singapore next Tuesday through Thursday. A diplomatic source said Japan recently made the suggestion, ¡°but we told them we had no such plan. I can say this is an expression of our side's views" regarding the claim to Dokdo.
It is unprecedented for South Korea not to hold a separate bilateral meeting with Japan on the sidelines of a multilateral conference. Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan is expected to meet separately with his counterparts from the U.S., China and Russia during the forum.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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