The passage warns that “lawsuit brokers” may again exploit forced-labor claims, as they did in the comfort-women issue—citing an alleged scam involving a private claims group and claims of politically motivated acquittal.
It argues that under the Japan–ROK agreement, compensation responsibility for wages was assigned to the Korean government, meaning the proper target of claims is Seoul, and that Korea has effectively “dug its own grave” by pushing contradictory rulings.
It further frames the forced-labor issue as influenced by China and North Korea, warning the “forced-labor card” could be reused in future Japan–DPRK normalization talks.
The conclusion stresses: Japan should avoid engagement; history itself provides the answer.

2019-01-04

Japan should not get involved with that country.
This time’s demands too should be thrown aside, just as in Syngman Rhee’s time.
Even if they come crying, do not deal with them.
Otaka.
Just like with the comfort-women issue, there is a strong possibility that lawsuit brokers will work behind the scenes in the forced-labor issue.
In the comfort-women case, Ms. Yang Soon-im, the mother-in-law of Mr. Takashi Uemura and the chair of the Association of Bereaved Families of Pacific War Victims, formed in 2010 a “Private Claims Lawsuit Group Against Japan,” and gathered members by saying, “If you are a bereaved family member of someone born in the 1900s to 1930s, you can receive compensation money.”
However, by 2011 she was indicted for fraud—having swindled about 1.5 billion won (about 150 million yen) from roughly 30,000 people under the name of attorney fees and the like.
Takayama.
In the end, she was acquitted, wasn’t she.
Otaka.
That’s right.
According to an explanation published in Shukan Bunshun, she was allegedly granted an acquittal by the Korean president at the time “for contributing to anti-Japan activities” (wry smile).
Takayama.
Like a service award (laughs).
Korea dug its own grave.
Otaka.
This time as well, strange brokers may work behind the scenes, telling people, “Come forward and claim you were a forced laborer.”
Takayama.
One theory says there are 220,000 of them, and that compensation of 2 trillion yen is at stake.
In response to Japan’s fierce backlash, South Korea’s prime minister, Lee Nak-yon, brazenly expressed “deep concern that leaders of the Japanese government continue to make extreme remarks,” and pushed back, saying, “The criticism is neither valid nor wise.”
Not the slightest sign of backing down (laughs).
Otaka.
It cannot be denied that Korea has, in a sense, dug its own grave.
At the time of the Japan–Korea agreement, it was decided that “the Korean government will take responsibility for compensating wages to workers and to comfort women.”
Therefore, the party to whom wages should be claimed is the Korean government, isn’t it.
Takayama.
With this ruling, hasn’t a chance finally come to cut ties with Korea.
Otaka.
I would like to hope so, but it was China and North Korea that first set the forced-labor issue in motion.
Even if the Republic of Korea were someday to disappear under a Koryo Federation concept, the command center for forced-labor claims would be the North, so it is truly troublesome.
For Kim Jong-un, Moon Jae-in likely prepared the table so that, once Japan–North Korea diplomatic normalization is achieved someday, the forced-labor card can be used to squeeze money out of Japan.
That is why North Korea, too, denounces the Japanese government’s response as “shameless,” and even blurts out outrageous remarks such as, “We must receive Japan’s apology and compensation multiplied by a hundred, by a thousand.”
I would like to return those words exactly as they are.
Takayama.
Japan should not get involved with that country.
This time’s demands too should be thrown aside, just as in Syngman Rhee’s time.
Even if they come crying, do not deal with them.
Looking at the past, every time Japan dealt with Korea, various misfortunes struck Japan.
If you study the past, the answer will naturally emerge.