Posted March. 23, 2005 22:27,
President Roh Moo-hyun made more harsh words against Japan on March 23.
President Rohs letter to the Korean people contains some aggressive words, including, Korea will completely eradicate the root of the problem, Korea may have a tough diplomatic relationship with Japan, Fights cant be solved just in a couple of days, Korea will no longer overlook, and Korea will win.
The expressions go beyond the level of the New Doctrine to Japan of the National Security Councils (NSC) Standing Committee which states its intention to change its silent diplomacy on March 17.
In particular, the Korean government has cut off its retreat, while not allowing room to solve the problem through dialogue between leaders by launching a frontal attack on Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumis visit to Yasukuni Shrine.
The Korean government also made it clear that it oppose Japans goal of membership in the UN Security Council, saying that if Japan wants to be a leading country in Asia and the world, it should behave in accordance with the moral obligation of history and restore its faith in the international community.
Due to the Korean governments hard-line attitude, some even said that Korea virtually declared all-out diplomatic war against Japan.
Kim Byeong-joon, a chief policy planner at Cheong Wa Dae in charge of the permanent governmental organization for the countermeasures of Dokdo and history textbook issues, firmly stated that no matter what Japan does, Korea will go its own way and that unlike the past governments, the Korean government is currently free from the past.
Above all, President Roh prescribed the issues of Dokdo, history textbook distortion, and Japanese politicians visit to a shrine as the revival of hegemonism, not just pending issues between the countries.
President Roh reportedly started writing the letter to the Korean people on March 19 and polished it until the morning of March 23.
Sources said that Roh decided to handle the matter personally after concluding the Japanese government and Koizumis lukewarm response to the declaration of a new doctrine by the NSC on March 17.
An official commented that the interpretation by the Japanese press that the Korean governments conversion to its hawkish attitude towards Japan was to recover its popularity at home underestimated the Korean governments stance, and that the change was followed by the strategic judgment that this was a time to strongly check Japans attempts to wipe out the past in which it brought on war under hegemonism by becoming a permanent member of the NSC.
However, some point out that President Rohs popularity in conducting state affairs rose by more than 10 percent after heightened tension between Korea and Japan.
Public opinion experts explain that President Rohs support rate recently exceeded 40 percent range and is still on the rise towards 50 percent.