South Korea's consumer boycott is the most noticeable expression of souring relations with Japan
of Asahi lager in a pub in Seoul these days and chances are the bartender will shake his head disapprovingly before suggesting one of the watery local alternatives. Shopkeepers have relegated Japanese products to the bottom shelf or removed them from view altogether. Owners of sushi restaurants have put up signs stressing that though their dishes may look Japanese, the fish was caught in Korean waters.
The spat between South Korea and Japan has little to do with such present-day threats and everything to do with chronic historical grievances, notably over Japan’s annexation of Korea and the suffering inflicted on its people during the war. It became acute last year, when South Korea’s Supreme Court ruled that Japanese companies that used South Koreans as forced labour during the war should pay compensation to surviving victims.
American officials say they have been taken aback. The State Department issued a rare public rebuke of the South Korean government. But many observers believe the escalation could have been avoided if America had shown more interest earlier on. President Donald Trump has called on the two allies to “get along”, but done precious little to mediate in the dispute, complaining that he has too much on his plate already. He has continued to shrug off Mr Kim’s weapons tests.
The erosion of trust is more serious. “This is a fight between friends that will only benefit actual antagonists such as North Korea,” says Park Cheol-hee of Seoul National University. Scrapping the pact is also likely to put South Korea on the back foot in negotiations about how to divide the cost of hosting American troops, and reduce its standing in the eyes of the world, believes Chun In-bum, a former South Korean army general. “I’m disappointed because it makes us look guilty,” he says.
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