|
Once unyielding, Japan’s stance towards North Korea has shifted towards one that is more open for dialogue. However, issues such as North Korea’s abduction of Japanese citizens remain unsolved until today. Dr. Kitae Lee, Director of Peace Research at the Korea Institute for National Unification, states that the most important factor for the improvement in DPRK-Japan relations is the restoration of ROK-Japan relations. The author argues that the Moon administration has had a tendency to approach inter-Korean, DPRK-Japan and ROK-Japan relations from a bilateral perspective. However, in order to improve DPRK-Japan relations, South Korea should renew its diplomatic approach from the perspective of ROK-DPRK-Japan trilateral relations. He adds that such efforts should expand into a larger goal of building a new order for peace and security in Southeast Asia.
|
