Tag
Historical issues in Northeast Asia
![Shifting World War II Memory in East Asia Signals Newly Emerging Global Alliances Shifting World War II Memory in East Asia Signals Newly Emerging Global Alliances](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2022-08-31-163948.jpg)
Shifting World War II Memory in East Asia Signals Newly Emerging Global Alliances
By Vincent K. L. Chang
With tensions rising in the Indo-Pacific, Beijing’s new triumphalism takes aim at one-time ally U.S., while Washington and its regional partners embrace former foe Japan’s historical revisionism.
![Hitting Reset on Japan-South Korea Relations Hitting Reset on Japan-South Korea Relations](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-07-11.jpg)
Hitting Reset on Japan-South Korea Relations
By Jessie Laufer
With relatively new governments and a pressing threat from North Korea, the timing to renew Seoul and Tokyo ties is better now than it has been in years.
![Can South Korea Mend Ties With Japan? Can South Korea Mend Ties With Japan?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2021-11-18-135216.jpg)
Can South Korea Mend Ties With Japan?
By Mitch Shin
The Yoon administration has expressed a strong willingness to improve bilateral ties with Japan, but Tokyo seems unwilling to budge on the central issues.
![Japan, South Korea Foreign Ministers Agree to Improve Ties Japan, South Korea Foreign Ministers Agree to Improve Ties](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat_2022-07-18-144958.jpg)
Japan, South Korea Foreign Ministers Agree to Improve Ties
By Yuri Kageyama and Hyung-jin Kim
Park Jin became the first South Korean foreign minister to visit Tokyo since 2019.
![South Korea Takes a Step in Efforts to Repair Relations With Japan South Korea Takes a Step in Efforts to Repair Relations With Japan](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-07-11.jpg)
South Korea Takes a Step in Efforts to Repair Relations With Japan
By Troy Stangarone
With a new consultative body to address forced labor issues, the Yoon administration is seeking to prevent the issues that scuttled the 2015 "comfort women" agreement.
![Japan Cautiously Welcomes South Korean President-Elect Japan Cautiously Welcomes South Korean President-Elect](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-07-11.jpg)
Japan Cautiously Welcomes South Korean President-Elect
By Mari Yamaguchi
Tensions between the two are frozen over, but president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has spoken of his interest in a thaw.
![Will Japan-South Korea Relations Ever Get Back on Track? Will Japan-South Korea Relations Ever Get Back on Track?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-09-6.jpg)
Will Japan-South Korea Relations Ever Get Back on Track?
By Yuki Tatsumi
There has been a fundamental shift in the dynamics surrounding Japan-South Korea relations, with both sides hardening their approach.
![What Will South Korea’s Presidential Election Mean for Japan Ties? What Will South Korea’s Presidential Election Mean for Japan Ties?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-07-11.jpg)
What Will South Korea’s Presidential Election Mean for Japan Ties?
By Mitch Shin
Along with their different policies on North Korea, the two candidates also have different perspectives on Japan.
![After the Latest Forced Labor Court Ruling, Where Do Japan-South Korea Relations Stand? After the Latest Forced Labor Court Ruling, Where Do Japan-South Korea Relations Stand?](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-09-6.jpg)
After the Latest Forced Labor Court Ruling, Where Do Japan-South Korea Relations Stand?
By Troy Stangarone
The Seoul Central District Court ruling might help lower temperatures, but a political solution is needed to improve South Korea’s relations with Japan.
![Seoul Court Rejects Slave Labor Claim Against Japanese Firms Seoul Court Rejects Slave Labor Claim Against Japanese Firms](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-06-07-11.jpg)
Seoul Court Rejects Slave Labor Claim Against Japanese Firms
By Kim Tong-Hyung
The decision seemed to contradict 2018 Supreme Courts rulings against Japanese firms, which had enraged Tokyo.
![Despite Political Tensions, Japan’s ‘Demon Slayer’ Tops South Korean Book Market and Box Office Despite Political Tensions, Japan’s ‘Demon Slayer’ Tops South Korean Book Market and Box Office](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-04-30.jpg)
Despite Political Tensions, Japan’s ‘Demon Slayer’ Tops South Korean Book Market and Box Office
By Seoho Lee
While relations have soured, pop culture exchanges are going strong – in both directions.
![On ‘Comfort Women’ and Academic Freedom: A Rebuttal On ‘Comfort Women’ and Academic Freedom: A Rebuttal](https://thediplomat.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/sizes/thumbnail/thediplomat-2021-02-23-10.jpg)
On ‘Comfort Women’ and Academic Freedom: A Rebuttal
By Yong-Shik Lee and Chan Un Park
Academic freedom does not protect outright falsehoods and distortions.