(News Analysis) Korea, Japan avoid thorny issues amid economic meltdown

(ATTN: UPDATES with remarks from main opposition party spokesperson in paras 10-11,
remarks from a presidential aide in paras 15-16)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Jan. 12 (Yonhap) -- The ongoing economic downturn forced the heads of
South Korea and Japan to dodge historically contentious issues and focus instead
on saving their troubled economies during their summit here Monday.
But their failure to address the issues that have most often caused tension
between the two neighbors has already sparked debate over the success of their
meeting.
Following his summit with Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso, President Lee
Myung-bak said his fifth meeting with the Japanese leader in less than four
months showed how close the countries now were to each other.
"We can say this meeting shows that the two countries are now near and also
close," Lee told a joint press conference with the visiting Japanese premier.
South Korea and Japan are often referred to as being geographically close but
politically and emotionally distant.
The description stems from recurring tensions spurred in part by Japan's repeated
claims to the South Korean islets of Dokdo in the East Sea and what Seoul sees as
Japanese attempts to whitewash its World War II crimes.
The Lee-Aso meeting also followed Tokyo's recent announcement that it will survey
marine resources in waters between Korea and Japan, a move widely seen here as
linked to Japan's claim to Dokdo.
Lee and Aso, however, said the issue did not even come up during their summit
meeting in Seoul.
"Historical issues were not directly discussed. But as we had noted during
President Lee's visit to Japan, the president and I completely agreed on the need
to further develop the relationship between the two countries into a more mature
partnership," Aso said in the press conference.
South Korea's main opposition Democratic Party dismissed the summit as
"fruitless" and "deplorable."
"Stressing the need to improve ties between the two countries without clearly
resolving the Dokdo and history issues is nothing but an empty outcry," party
spokeswoman Rep. Kim Yoo-jung said.
However, Choi Young-jin, professor of political science at Seoul's Chung-Ang
University, noted the leaders had been expected to avoid discussing what he
called "political and complicated issues" even if there were no economic crisis.
"Traditionally, the countries have never discussed political or complicated
issues at summits. The main or publicized objective of summits between the two
has always been the development of their relationship into a future-oriented,
mature partnership," the professor said in a telephone interview with Yonhap.
What will determine the success or failure of the summit, he said, is whether
Seoul and Tokyo were each able to accomplish what they had set out to do, noting
Seoul's main objective may have been to win Japanese concession on economic
issues that could keep South Korea out of harm's way.
Kim Tae-hyo, a senior aide to the South Korean president for foreign affairs,
also noted leaders do not bring up issues that could put the other side on guard
at a summit.
"I believe the fact that Prime Minister Aso came here for the summit shows how
much Japan wants to work with Korea, and I wonder if there is a need to address
those issues when they are not causing any serious problems in the relationship,"
Kim told Yonhap.
A spokesman for the South Korean presidential office said it will take some time
before the outcome of the summit becomes visible.
"I believe expecting immediate results right after the meeting takes place is
just asking too much," Lee Dong-kwan said in a press briefing. "There will
continue to be results once the mood is set and practical discussions move
forward."
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)