South Korea's foreign minister refused to meet his Japanese counterpart on the sidelines of a regional security forum in Singapore. South Korean officials say that was in response to Tokyo's renewed claim over nearly uninhabitable rocky islets located roughly halfway between the countries.
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Great work, Chris!
Nice to see a lot of fellow JapanSoc users on that...I have seen this thing down in Shinjuku and was wondering that the hell it was....Interesting thought actually. I do wonder if eating less meat would be good for our...Actually, I think disposable nappies are actually better (by certain measures) when...The only reason why I agree with your comment (as I know you don't even believe in...Just more proof how silly the so-called green movement can be sometimes....Nerima-ku? Damn I work there....Well another one bits the dust....Maybe it`s a strange mix of DBZ and Cowboy Bebop?...I would have replied on the post itself, but that commenting system is too...
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One of the first things you learn in kindergarten is to share. Unfortunately, our foreign ministers haven't reached that level of education yet.
I agree. The South Korean response to this whole thing is typical, but expected. Both parties need to come to some kind of agreement on this situation and fast. It seems as though Lee Myung-Bak's pre-election talk of warming relations with Japan wasn't truthful. Granted Tokyo could stop being needlessly provocative as well.
South Korea is on a slippery slope, here. If they don't grow up, and fast, they'll be the ones snubbed by most of the self-respecting international community.
Japan has financed many of the big money projects in the Western world thanks to 0% interest loans. South Korea has given us what ... cell phones, pachinko parlours and Winter Sonata?
Then again ... perhaps Lee Myung-Bak has noticed that when you're crazy, people will give you stuff just to play nice. It's certainly worked for North Korea, and most of the crap they've allegedly pulled is based on idle speculation!
Its almost like they think they have something to gain by acting ridiculous. Its one thing to disagree with your neighbor, but its another to let disputes overshadow good relations on more than just a couple levels. I mean the condom ads, the exchange program situation, now this envoy deal, it just seems ridiculous that they would risk destroying a relationship with Japan over these rocks and the EEZ when a compromise is the best solution. Acting in this manner is not going to make things better.
I guess that is what happens when you brainwash your public against another nation.. it backfires and makes it more difficult for you conduct business on rational terms.
Japan conducts its foreign policy using rational methods that fall within international norms. Can't say the same about South Korea.
Give Japan her island back !!!