Japan's Intention Behind the Invitation to Kim Jong-un to the Tokyo Olympics [Editorial]

[경향신문]

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Kim Jin-pyo, who also serves as the chair of the Korea-Japan Parliamentarians’ Union, said in a press interview on November 18, “The Japanese government expressed its intention to invite North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to Tokyo during the Tokyo Olympic Games next July.” Lawmaker Kim met with political and government figures including Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, during his trip to Japan on November 12-14. He said, “If Chairman Kim is willing to attend, they could formally invite him through the organizing committee for the Olympic Games.” Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato did not respond on this issue, but recalled that Prime Minister Suga mentioned Chairman Kim’s visit to Japan as an “opportunity.” He referred to the Japanese prime minister’s words at the House of Councillors on November 5. When asked about the possibility of a summit if the North Korean leader visits during the Tokyo Olympics, Prime Minister Suga said, “I think it will be a good opportunity.”

Based on the context of lawmaker Kim’s remarks and the response from Japan, it seems both South Korea and Japan are trying to use the Tokyo Olympics to create momentum for peace on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. As for the South Korean government, it could not ask for anything more than to make progress in the process for peace on the Korean Peninsula as it did two years ago with the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Japan may also expect the visit by Chairman Kim to lead to the successful hosting of an international event as well as progress in its relations with North Korea. For the first time in a long while, it seems South Korea and Japan are of one mind.

However, the South Korean government seems to be preoccupied with the thought that it must quickly restore relations with Japan to cooperate with the Tokyo Olympics. Japan has not budged on the issue of compensation for forced labor, which lies at the center of the conflicts, while South Korea is giving the impression that it is anxious. Some suggest that the South Korean government should first pay the compensation for the Japanese corporations and later secure the money from a fund set up by the two countries. Lawmaker Kim mentioned a suggestion he made to the Japanese officials, that if the compensation for forced labor is not resolved soon, then the two countries work to resolve the issue by the end of the Tokyo Olympics. This implies that he would link the issue of compensation for forced labor with the issue of peace on the Korean Peninsula, but it is questionable as to whether this is an appropriate approach. Given the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, it is still unclear as to whether the Tokyo Olympics can be held. In this situation, it is too early to mention a visit by Chairman Kim Jong-un. We also need to see if North Korea will respond to the invitation.

It is understandable that the government wants to conclude the issue of compensation for forced labor by the end of the year. But unless the government resolves this issue based on a victim-oriented approach, we could end up witnessing a repeat of the comfort women agreement in 2015. We need to look back and see if efforts to restore relations with Japan are weakening this approach.