US President likely to pass on sex slave issue

Korea visit will follow Japan trip

U.S. President Barack Obama will face a couple of issues that Koreans want to see addressed during his visit here later this month.

First among these is the issue of Korean women forced into sexual slavery by the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II.

Many people here think that a profound show of regret from Japan on this issue is essential as a precondition before any attempt is made to improve bilateral ties.

Obama’s schedule could make it easier. He is scheduled to pay a state visit to Tokyo on April 24 before flying to Seoul.

But experts say Obama isn’t likely to take a political risk, although the U.S. often preaches a righteous outlook.

“There are some expectations that Korea and Japan will be able to mend fences on the occasion of Obama’s visit. But in my view, that will not be easy,” said journalist-turned-commentator Lee Kang-yun.

“Considering that the U.S. tended to side more with Japan in the past, Obama is not likely to take serious action on the controversial stance adopted by Japanese politicians to history, which is a matter of domestic politics from his perspective.”

Lee added that the United States cannot afford to estrange Japan which is a strong ally and pays to maintain U.S. soldiers on the island country, and because Tokyo’s cooperation is necessary to its pivot toward Asia policy aimed at checking the ever-increasing influence of China in the region.

Prof. Kim Meen-geon of Kyung Hee University said that Obama’s trip will be business as usual, citing his three previous visits during which the U.S. president chatted with Korean leaders and cheered up soldiers stationed here.

“I don’t think that Obama will bring an agenda such as historical issues and sex slaves,” she said.

“Instead, he will focus solely on pragmatic issues such as North Korean nuclear threats, the three-way alliance with South Korea and Japan and economic cooperation.”

She pointed out that Obama originally considered skipping Seoul from his Asian tour, which will also include Malaysia and the Philippines.

With regard to North Korea policies, pundits said that Obama will not change his previously held principle that the U.S. will not accept the reclusive state’s repeated requests for bilateral talks unless the North takes dramatic steps to scrap its nuclear facilities.

“At a time when North Korea is vowing to conduct a new type of nuclear test, the U.S. will not craft appeasement policies,” said Paik Hak-soon, a researcher at the Sejong Institute in Seoul.

“Rather, Obama is projected to state stronger words toward North Korea than usual after the discovery of drones.”

Three suspected North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles were recently found south of the inter-Korean border. One took pictures of Cheong Wa Dae and nearby areas, which prompted criticism of South Korea’s air surveillance capability.

Against this backdrop, the Park administration decided to install a new radar system that can detect low-flying UAVs to cover significant places such as Cheong Wa Dae. By Kim Tae-gyu The korea times