South Korea President Lee Jae-myung: Historical Issues Must Be Resolved for Japan Cooperation
President Lee Jae-myung indicated on June 8 that military cooperation between South Korea and Japan is difficult for the Korean people to accept, asserting that a genuine bilateral relationship can only be forged upon the resolution of historical and territorial disputes. During a press conference commemorating his first year in office, President Lee addressed the South Korea-Japan Acquisition and Cross-Servicing Agreement (ACSA), emphasizing that while a multilateral security framework is desirable for Northeast Asia in the long term, current confrontational dynamics necessitate caution and a measured approach. He drew an analogy to illustrate that an apology for past transgressions must precede any move toward friendship, highlighting that lingering issues prevent full cooperation.
John Q. Hosedrinker