Published on January 16, 2020.
The author praises the Sankei Shimbun as the newspaper publishing the most reasonable editorials in Japan today, introducing its editorial titled “‘Japan Must Also Make Efforts’ Is Wrong.”
The article argues that the wartime labor issue was settled by the 1965 Japan–South Korea Claims Agreement, that South Korea must resolve the matter on its own responsibility, and that Japanese politicians must not urge compromises that violate Japan’s national interest and international law.

January 16, 2020
Today’s Sankei Shimbun proved that it is the newspaper publishing the most reasonable editorials in Japan today.
The following is from today’s Sankei Shimbun editorial.
At present, I subscribe to three newspapers: the Sankei, the Yomiuri, and the Nikkei.
Today’s Sankei Shimbun proved that it is the newspaper publishing the most reasonable editorials in Japan today.
The following is from today’s Sankei Shimbun editorial.
“Japan Must Also Make Efforts” Is Wrong
Mr. Moon’s New Year Press Conference
At his New Year press conference, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said of the “wartime labor” court ruling issue that “Japan should also present a solution and sit down face to face to discuss it.”
This is a statement that cannot be accepted at all.
All issues concerning claims, including conscription, were settled by the 1965 Japan–South Korea Claims Agreement.
The “wartime labor” issue is something that the South Korean side should resolve on its own responsibility, and it is entirely mistaken to demand efforts from the Japanese side.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga avoided commenting directly on the statement, but emphasized, “There is no change in our position that we will strongly demand that South Korea correct its state of violating international law.”
This means that the ball for breaking the deadlock in relations is on the South Korean side.
Based on the South Korean Supreme Court ruling concerning “wartime labor,” procedures for the sale of Japanese companies’ assets are being advanced, and it is being said that liquidation is near.
If that happens, the deterioration of Japan–South Korea relations will become decisive.
Mr. Moon called on the Japanese side for dialogue, saying, “There is no time to spare,” but what the South Korean government should do is simply implement a solution that the Japanese side can accept.
South Korean National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang submitted to the National Assembly a bill that he called a solution, and lawyers for the “wartime labor” lawsuits and others proposed the creation of a Japan–South Korea joint consultative council.
However, such a consultative council is unnecessary in the first place.
This is a problem that should be resolved within South Korea.
Under the Moon administration, the comfort women issue has also become entangled.
The 2015 Japan–South Korea agreement was an agreement in which the governments of both countries sat down face to face to tackle a difficult issue and promised a “final and irreversible resolution.”
Based on this agreement, the Japanese government contributed one billion yen, and a foundation for former comfort women was established in South Korea.
The Moon administration unilaterally dissolved that foundation.
South Korea’s Constitutional Court ruled that this Japan–South Korea agreement was merely a political agreement with no legal obligation of implementation, and that its effect was unclear.
With this, there is no way Japan–South Korea relations can improve.
At his New Year press conference, Mr. Moon expressed hope for improved Japan–South Korea relations.
However, unless substance accompanies his words, they will end as mere talk.
What matters is whether the South Korean side will correct its state of violating the Claims Agreement, and whether it will respect the Japan–South Korea agreement concerning the comfort women.
There are also conspicuous Japanese politicians who try to heighten the mood for improved relations even though South Korea’s attitude has not changed, but they are misreading the essence of the matter.
They should stop making remarks that demand from the Japanese government compromises or concessions that run counter to the national interest and international law.