South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has ruled out expanding military ties with Japan any time soon, insisting that historical grievances must be resolved first.
The two countries have come under growing pressure to strengthen defence ties as North Korea, China and Russia draw closer together. But analysts say such a move remains politically risky for Lee’s government given deep-seated public resentment in South Korea towards Japan.
To explain why his country could not yet embrace military cooperation with Japan, Lee likened it to a man being punched and hospitalised before being asked by his attacker to shake hands and move on.
“Can I simply get along with them because it is necessary?” Lee asked at a press conference on Monday marking his first year in office.
To become real friends, that attacker would need to say, ‘I’m genuinely sorry’
“In order to become real friends, that attacker would need to say, ‘I’m genuinely sorry … it must have hurt you … I promise I will never do it again,’” he said.
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