Where I Stand — Mike O’Callaghan: Japan buys new friend

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 9:17 a.m.

THE MEETING IN PYONGYANG, North Korea, between Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and his host North Korean leader Kim Jong Il was a diplomatic eye-opener. The two nations have agreed on talks they hope will lead to diplomatic relations. This is the first time that serious talks of possible diplomatic relations have taken place between the two nations since 1948. What was most amazing was that Japan's top man, not his foreign minister, made the trip.

If ever there has been cause for hate between two nations it has to be the Japanese colonial rule of the entire peninsula from 1910 until 1945 when the Chinese-supported communists, along with the Soviets, moved into the north and the United States drove the Japanese from the south. During the Japanese occupation the Koreans were used for slave labor in Japan and their young women were used as "comfort girls" by the occupying army.

In recent years there has been little love lost between North Korea and Japan. The healing process between industrial South Korea and Japan has become positive in both the business and diplomatic worlds. North Korean spy ships in Japanese waters, kidnapping of Japanese citizens and the testing of ballistic missiles toward Japan hasn't helped relations.

Koizumi signed the document at the meeting that apologized for his country. The apology read in part that Japan "humbly recognized the historical fact that it caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of Korea through its past colonial rule and expressed feelings of deep remorse and heartfelt apology."

Kim in turn admitted to the kidnapping of Japanese citizens during the 1970s and 1980s. He blamed some of his military extremists for these actions. Press accounts report the North Korean saying, "This is truly regretful, and I offer my candid apology." He also added that it "will never happen again."

So the two leaders became lovebirds and Koizumi returned home after agreeing to discuss a figure of between $8 billion and $13 billion Japan will give in aid to North Korea for the years of colonization. I'm pleased that Japan has pierced the curtain surrounding North Korea. This also may open the door for a constructive dialogue between North Korea and our nation.

After reviewing the possible positive results of the recent meeting in Pyongyang, part of the agreement angers me. Japan's willingness to give North Korea between $8 billion and $13 billion for slave labor and the use of their women as prostitutes should be expected. What bothers me is that nation still refuses to pay the American slave laborers they used during World War II. Those slaves who lived, all American POWs, were rewarded with $1 a day for their 12 and 14 hours of work with little food while in captivity. Today, possibly less than 5,000 of them live with their aging tortured bodies while the Japanese government and companies that used and abused them find money for stockholders, personal luxury and money for other countries like North Korea.

Our country, because of its own diplomatic greed, continues to block any demand for payment to these former POWs. Japanese companies continue to soak up big bucks in our country but easily ignore the men they used and abused from 1942 to 1945. Nevertheless, before this day is over millions more will go into their company bank accounts from Americans who also want to forget about those who paid with their sweat, freedom and often their lives.

Why do these survivors have to continue paying the price for our nation's selfishness dominated by a profit-driven diplomacy? Why do fellow Americans continue to add to the profits of companies and a nation that refuses to right a wrong? I can't give a reasonable answer, but know that big dollars, greed and high living in both Japan and U.S. can be attributed to this situation.

Japanese leaders can afford $8 billion to $13 billion for North Korea but believe that $1 a day for the POWs they didn't kill is adequate. Just imagine how only $1 billion would help the few remaining survivors. Sadly the leaders of our country evidently agree with this selfish conduct. Shame on both countries.