S Korea refuses Abe's request for joint condemnation of N Korea

[The Sushi Bandit]

South Korean president refuses Abe's request for joint condemnation of North Korea
http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/national/news/20061011p2a00m0na004000c.html


Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe

South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun talked about his views on the history of Japan's wartime atrocities for 40 minutes during talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Seoul on Monday, forcing them to abandon a joint statement, entourage sources said.

Roh refused Abe's request to issue a joint statement condemning North Korea for its alleged nuclear test, according to the sources. The South Korean leader then talked for 40 minutes about his views on the history of Japan's atrocities during World War II and visits by Japanese politicians to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine.

During the meeting, South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon handed a memorandum to Roh, urging him to discuss a joint statement with Abe. The sources said this suggested there is a perception gap between the president's office and the ministry over the country's interpretation of history and its North Korea policy.

[w4rma]

1. ??? (nt)

[Kagemusha]

2. We don't need any steenking joint statement.

Esp. from those steenking Japanese.

Gotta love politics.

[wholetruth00]

3. I realy think that the US needs to be more frightened of Abe than Kim.

Keep a close eye on him and remember, although Japan is SAID to be and acts like a strong ally to the US. During the 80's and early 90's they almost buried us economically. Many Japanese still smart over the nukes we dropped on them and the long arm of payback is not shortened by economic alliances caretaker war machines. Japan will in the future pay the US back for its dastardly deed to its people and we are too smug and arrogant to believe this.

[enigma000]

4. Have you talked with many Japanese?

I haven't myself - I thought they had put the war behind them. The Germans don't seem bent on revenge, and they have more of a reason to dislike us.

[geek tragedy]

5. Oh please. Japan and the US are about as friendly

as two nations can be. It's not a perfect relationship, but Japan and China fighting is a hell of a lot more likely than Japan and the US fighting.

Don't forget that the nukes killed far fewer people than the conventional bombing runs did.

[The Sushi Bandit]

6. Agreed.. US and Japan are very close

Korea still wants Japan to change their history books to tell the truth about sex slaves during WW2