Reconciliation between Korea and Japan

Although Japan and Korea formally normalized their relationsin 1965, these neighbours remain wary of each other becauseof their awkward history during the first half of the twentiethcentury, when Japan annexed Korea and oppressed the Koreansin many ways. Korean scholars believe strongly that this annexationwas "illegal" and that it constituted a violation of internationallaw when it occurred. Japanese scholars tend to admit that theJapanese occupation of Korea was brutal and caused enormoussuffering, but they are reluctant to acknowledge that the annexationwas "illegal", because other great powers were annexing smallcountries during that period. The US action supporting the overthrowof the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1893 and annexing Hawaii in 1898may be helpful in finding an appropriate resolution to the Japan–Koreastandoff. In 1993, the US Congress enacted a joint resolutionformally apologizing to the Native Hawaiian people and callingfor a "reconciliation" between the United States and the NativeHawaiians. This resolution acknowledged that the US diplomaticand military support for the 1893 overthrow was "illegal" andwas in violation of "international law". This strong statementseems to be an application of "intertemporal law", whereby presentviews of international law are applied to the events of the1890s, but, in any event, it is a powerful acknowledgment thata wrong occurred, causing injuries that can still be felt today.The reconciliation process between the United States and NativeHawaiians is now under way and, to be complete, it will requirethe restoration of the sovereignty of the Native Hawaiians anda return of land and resources to them. Japanese officials haveoffered apologies to the Koreans, but the reconciliation betweenthe two countries can become complete only if these apologiesare accompanied by a transfer of items of real value. This paperproposes that proper payments to the Korean comfort women anda renunciation by Japan of its claim to Dokdo/Takeshima (thetiny islands claimed by both countries) could serve to formalizethe reconciliation between these two neighbours.