미 전문가들 “윤 대통령 한일관계 개선 의지 ‘긍정적’…양국 실질적 상응 조치 필요” > 정치

U.S. experts positively evaluated South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol's willingness to improve relations between Korea and Japan. The U.S. suggested that the two countries take practical countermeasures to improve Korea-Japan relations, and that the U.S. should continue to create multilateral cooperation opportunities involving South Korea and Japan. Reporter Lee Jo-eun reports.

Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Evans Revere called South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol's approach to Japan "bold."

[Former Deputy Assistant Revere] 윤 대통령의 일본 방문은 아마도 북한에 대한 그의 "대담한 계획"으로서 훨씬 더 중요할 것입니다. 일본에 대한 그의 접근은 의심할 여지 없이 "대담한" 것이며, 잘 관리된다면, 일본이 그의 호의에 보답한다면 동북아의 안보 역학을 근본적으로 바꿀 수 있습니다. 한국과 일본이 더 나은 관계, 더 조화로운 관계, 그리고 더 나은 협력을 추구해야 할 많은 이유가 있습니다. 이 중 가장 중요한 것은 한국과 일본 모두 광범위한 가치를 공유하고 있고 유사한 안보 위협을 받고 있다는 것입니다."

"Yoon's willingness to improve Korea-Japan relations is probably much more important than the "bold plan" he said to VOA on the 18th. "If Yoon's approach is well managed and Japan takes measures in accordance with Yoon's good faith, it could fundamentally change the security dynamics of Northeast Asia."

"There are many reasons why Korea and Japan should have a better relationship and seek to strengthen more harmonious relations and cooperation," he said. "What is especially important is that both Korea and Japan share a wide range of values and receive similar security threats."

The Yoon Seok-yeol Korean government has been actively expressing its willingness to improve relations with Japan since its inception.

President Yoon said in his Liberation Day speech on the 15th, "Japan, which used to be an object of political domination to regain and protect our freedom, is now a neighbor who must join forces to face challenges that threaten the freedom of the world."

He said, "When Korea-Japan relations move toward the future and the mission of the times of the two countries based on universal values, the past issue can be solved properly."

James Zumwalt, a special senior researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, said in a telephone interview with VOA on the 18th, "President Yoon seems to recognize that Japan can be an important partner for South Korea and that the two countries can promote mutual interests through cooperation."

"But because historical issues are a stumbling block, President Yoon is trying to find ways to solve them so that Japan and South Korea can become more effective partners," he added.

[Recording: Zoombalt, Senior Researcher] "저는 그가 일본이 한국의 중요한 파트너가 될 수 있고, 협력함으로써 상호 이익을 증진시킬 수 있다는 것을 인식하고 있다고 생각합니다. 그래서, 하지만 분명히, 역사적인 문제들이 걸림돌이고 그는 그 문제들을 해결할 방법을 찾으려고 노력했습니다. 일본과 한국이 더 효과적인 파트너가 될 수 있도록 말입니다."

Sue Kim, a former CIA analyst, told VOA that President Yoon's initiative on improving Korea-Japan relations emphasized concessions and understanding.

[Researcher Kim] 한일관계에 대한 윤 장관의 비전의 두드러진 특징은 양보와 이해를 강조하는 것입니다. 윤 정부가 일본의 협조와 함께 그러한 방식으로 비전을 수행할 수 있다면 양측은 역사적 논쟁을 극복하고 현재의 도전과 우선순위에 대해 협력할 수 있을 것입니다. 그러나 구현이 가장 큰 과제입니다.

He said, "If the Yoon administration can work with Japan to implement the plan of relations with Japan in such a way, the two countries will be able to overcome historical disputes and cooperate on current challenges and priorities."

Yuko Nakano, a researcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), told VOA, "Over the past few months, President Yoon has expressed his idea that Korea will play a more active role in defending the liberal international order.

[Yuko researcher] "지난 몇 달 동안 윤 대통령은 한국이 자유주의 국제 질서를 수호하는 데 더 적극적인 선수가 되겠다는 비전을 밝혔고, 그것은 자유 개방과 인도-태평양 틀을 포함한 일본 고유의 전략적 비전과 일치합니다."

"With the inauguration of the Yoon administration, the perception of threats from South Korea and Japan against coercive activities by North Korea and China in the region seems to be becoming more similar," he said. "As the two countries seek cooperation in areas of common interest, strategic solidarity can become closer."

Experts stressed that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration should come up with a solution before the Supreme Court's ruling on the cashing of Japanese companies' assets in Korea to improve relations between Korea and Japan.

The Korean Supreme Court will soon issue a final decision on the cashing of Japanese companies regarding compensation for forced labor victims in Japanese colonial era, and if the plaintiffs win, Japanese companies will have to sell assets in Korea and compensate the victims of forced labor with the money.

James Zumwalt, a special senior researcher at the Sasakawa Peace Foundation, said the Japanese company's decision to cash in assets in Korea will make it "very difficult for the two countries to move forward."

"President Yoon seems to be looking for ways to manage the problem to prevent this situation, but he has not yet presented a specific plan," he said. "But we need to do so."

[Recorded by Zumwalt] "그 단계가 취해진다면 앞으로 나아가기 매우 어려울 것입니다. 그래서 저는 대통령님, 한국 대통령이 그 부분에 이르지 않도록 그 문제를 관리하는 방법을 모색하고 있다고 생각합니다. 제가 알기로는 그 사람이 적다고 생각하지 않아요. 그는 아직 구체적인 계획을 세우지 않았어요. 하지만 그렇게 하는 데는 어느 정도 필연성이 있다고 생각합니다.

Revere, former senior vice minister, also said that in order to improve relations between Korea and Japan, South Korea should find ways to prevent Korean courts from taking measures that could seriously harm relations with Japan.

[Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Revere 한일관계를 개선하기 위해서는 기존의 양국간 합의와 이해(GSOMIA 포함)가 존중되고 존중되며 국내 정치가 양국 관계를 해치지 않도록 해야 합니다. 한국은 또한 한국 법원이 일본과의 관계를 심각하게 어지럽히는 행동을 취하는 것을 막을 방법을 찾아야 할 것입니다.

"Korea must affirm to Japan that it will respect existing bilateral agreements and understanding, including the GISOMIA (Korea-Japan Military Information Protection Agreement), and that domestic politics will not harm bilateral relations," he said.

"Politicalization of Korea-Japan relations is a major obstacle to progress," Kim said. "Both Korean and Japanese governments should avoid making suggestive remarks and actions if they want to make substantial progress in bilateral relations."

[Researcher Kim] 한일관계의 정치화는 진전에 큰 걸림돌입니다. 윤 정부가 일본과의 관계에서 실질적인 진전을 이루려 한다면 언행으로 화두를 선정하는 일은 피해야 합니다. 물론 탱고는 둘이서 해야 하기 때문에 서울뿐만 아니라 도쿄에서도 불길이 날 때가 있습니다."

Some point out that the Japanese government, which is currently lukewarm about improving Korea-Japan relations, should take measures corresponding to the Yoon Seok-yeol government's willingness to actively improve relations.

"The Japanese government is in a good position to take positive measures (in relation to Korea) because it doesn't have to worry too much about public criticism after the election," said Zumwalt, a senior researcher.

[Recorded by Zumwalt Senior Fellow] "일본 정부는 선거가 끝났기 때문에 대중 앞에서 비난을 받거나 걱정할 필요가 없기 때문에 긍정적인 조치를 취할 수 있는 좋은 위치에 있습니다. 그래서 일본 정부가 스스로 긍정적인 몸짓으로 답례하는 모습을 보고 싶습니다."

Former senior vice-minister Livier also stressed that it is important for the Japanese government to quickly reciprocate President Yoon's good intentions as long as he has made clear his willingness to cooperate with Japan.

To improve Korea-Japan relations, he said, "Japan should show sincerity by respecting the Japanese government's past statements of reflection and apology (on historical issues), and withdraw trade and commercial measures taken by Korea, avoiding sensitivity."

He added, "Japan should cooperate with South Korea to find ways to resolve differences between the two countries over the interpretation of the 1965 Korea-Japan Basic Treaty."

[Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Revere "일본은 과거 일본 정부의 반성과 사죄의 성명을 존중함으로써 진정성을 보여야 하며, 한국의 민감성을 건드리지 말아야 하며, 한국 정부에 대해 취해진 무역 및 상업 관련 조치를 철회할 것을 보장해야 하며, 한국과 협력하여 한일 해석의 차이를 극복할 방법을 찾아야 합니다. 국교 정상화 조약입니다. 이 중 어느 것도 불가능한 것은 아니지만, 모든 것이 어렵습니다."

In the midst of this, the Biden administration has placed Korea-Japan cooperation at the heart of its Asian initiative, including North Korea.

The U.S. State Department stressed the importance of trilateral cooperation between the U.S. and Japan to achieve the goal of complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, saying that President Yoon's recent announcement of a "bold plan" toward North Korea.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a regular briefing on the 15th that the U.S.-Japan trilateral relationship "in many ways transcends the Indian Pacific and affects our common position and a free and open international system that goes far beyond the Indian Pacific."

Researcher Kim said, "The United States is in an important but sensitive position between the two allies," adding, "It is important for the United States to avoid remarks and actions that can be perceived as taking the other side."

[Researcher Kim] "미국은 두 동맹국 사이에서 중요하지만 민감한 위치에 있습니다. 미국이 한쪽을 다른 한쪽을 지지하는 것으로 인식될 수 있는 발언과 행동을 피하는 것이 중요합니다."

"The role of the United States, which can be helpful and constructive, is to find a way to encourage further and practical dialogue and cooperation at the three-way, U.S.-Japan, U.S.-Japan, and bilateral levels," he stressed.

Revere said the U.S. is quietly working behind the scenes to find a way for the two countries to reconcile in order to improve relations between Korea and Japan. "These efforts must continue."

He said he was "carefully optimistic" about the possibility of improving Korea-Japan relations, stressing that "it is also in the interests of both countries to create a common cause against common security threats."

Zumwalt, a senior researcher, also said he is optimistic that the relationship will be improved gradually, starting with cooperation in areas of common interest, as both sides recognize the importance of the relationship.

In addition to this behind-the-scenes diplomacy to improve Korea-Japan relations, the U.S. should continue to convene a kind of three-way or multilateral meeting involving South Korea and Japan, where the U.S. and Japan can focus on mutual concerns.

Researcher Kim said, "President Yoon's emphasis on the alliance with the U.S. as the centerpiece of foreign policy is an encouraging sign that Korea-Japan relations can be improved to some extent."

However, both Japan and South Korea still have the possibility of politicizing the Korea-Japan relationship, which would have an indirect but significant impact on both countries' ability to cope with new economic and difficult security challenges.

"Trust-building measures usually mean contacts between military authorities to prevent uncertainty and build mutual trust in a strict sense, but more broadly, they can also be applied to bilateral relations between Korea and Japan," Yuko said.

"As with all trust-building measures, patience is needed," he said. "There is no magic wand, but to build trust, we need a consistent approach between Korea and Japan and the willingness of leaders to improve relations while expanding the path of cooperation."

I'm Lee Joeun of VOA News.

출처 : VOA한국