ArrowArtboardCreated with Sketch.Title ChevronTitle ChevronIcon FacebookIcon LinkedinIcon Mail ContactPath LayerIcon MailPositive ArrowIcon Print
International relations

Japan and South Korea struggle to look ahead, 20 years on

Despite declaration of 'future-oriented' relations, history dominates talks

Then-Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, right, and then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung sign a joint declaration in Tokyo in 1998.
Then-Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, right, and then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung sign a joint declaration in Tokyo in 1998.

TOKYO -- Two decades after issuing a joint declaration pushing for the creation of a "future-oriented" relationship, Japan and South Korea are still struggling to put their history behind them as long-running disputes over wartime "comfort women" and other topics flare up again.

"Japan and South Korea are neighbors, and we have many difficult issues because of that," Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Tuesday at an event in Tokyo to commemorate the countries' 1998 Joint Declaration. "Political leaders need to make big decisions in order to overcome these issues."

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored Content This content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.

Discover the all new Nikkei Asia app

  • Take your reading anywhere with offline reading functions
  • Never miss a story with breaking news alerts
  • Customize your reading experience

Nikkei Asian Review, now known as Nikkei Asia, will be the voice of the Asian Century.

Celebrate our next chapter
Free access for everyone - Sep. 30

Find out more