[Defense Club] Former German Chancellor Brandt's Knee Apology

Turning Point in Korea-Japan Relations 'Forgiveness'
Korea and Japan: Genuine Apology as a Prerequisite for Security Cooperation

'Forgiveness' in Greek is ‘aphesis’. It means ‘to remit a debt.’ It is a kind of gift that frees both the perpetrator and the victim from their debts. The power of forgiveness is great. It can bring even hostile nations to join hands.

Germany and Poland are representative examples. Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime invaded Poland in 1939 under the pretext of reclaiming ‘the native territory of the Germans.’ At that time, six million Poles died, amounting to one-fifth of Poland’s entire population. In the eyes of the Polish people, Germany was more than just an enemy.

The relationship between the two countries rapidly improved following an incident in 1970 when West German Chancellor Willy Brandt suddenly knelt down while laying a wreath in front of the ‘Warsaw Ghetto Uprising Heroes Monument.’ Behind the German Chancellor’s ‘kneeling apology’ was a letter of forgiveness. In 1965, the Polish bishops under communist rule sent a letter to the West German bishops. The letter contained the message: “Despite the painful situation caused by the terrible past (between our peoples)... let us try to forget the past... We forgive you and also ask for your forgiveness.”

This single letter created an atmosphere of reconciliation, leading Chancellor Brandt to visit Poland and kneel. It was accepted as a sincere reflection and apology by Germans for the war and atrocities committed by the Nazis. Subsequently, the New Eastern Policy was promoted in Poland, and the letter was later praised as a ‘moving document of reconciliation’ and ‘avant-garde of reconciliation.’

Korea and Japan are also at a turning point of ‘forgiveness.’ President Yoon Suk-yeol extended a hand first to Japan, saying, “Japan has changed from a past militaristic aggressor to a partner sharing universal values with us and cooperating on security, economy, and global agendas.” Later, President Yoon and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced at the Korea-Japan summit held in Japan on the 16th that they would inherit the spirit of the ‘Kim Dae-jung?Obuchi Joint Declaration.’

On October 8, 1998, in Tokyo, Japan, then-President Kim Dae-jung (1924?2009) and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (1937?2000) announced the ‘21st Century New Korea-Japan Partnership Joint Declaration,’ which clearly stated Obuchi’s ‘deep remorse and apology for colonial rule.’ After the summit held at the Prime Minister’s Official Residence in Tokyo, Prime Minister Kishida held a joint press conference and confirmed that the current cabinet continues the historical awareness stance of previous cabinets, including the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration. This was a roundabout way of expressing deep remorse and apology for colonial rule.

However, recently Japan has poured cold water on Korea-Japan relations again by approving elementary school textbooks that dilute the coerciveness of Korean conscription during the Japanese colonial period and strengthen territorial claims over Dokdo. The apology indirectly expressed by Prime Minister Kishida is being questioned for its sincerity.

With North Korea’s nuclear threat escalating, not only Korea but also Japan urgently needs Korea-Japan military cooperation. Due to the curvature of the Earth, Japan can only detect North Korean missiles once they rise above a certain altitude, which inevitably delays detection speed. However, if Japan immediately shares radar information from Korea, Japan’s Aegis destroyer radar can quickly grasp North Korean missile flight information, increasing the reliability of interception. Also, Japan issues the ‘Japan Alert’ (J-ALERT), a nationwide warning system for residents to evacuate whenever North Korean missiles fly, and this can be done more swiftly with cooperation.

An important prerequisite for security cooperation would be a sincere apology. Prime Minister Kishida should reread the Obuchi Declaration.