06.01.2019
By Yun Jin
Japanese Prime Minister Abe has further fanned the flames of controversy [between Korean and Japan] and the conflict is now spreading to the international community. The battle has been spreading online. The [Korean] Ministry of Defence plans to distribute a video in eight languages, including English, Japanese and Chinese as well as Korean [which will out forward their side of the argument].
The [Korean-language] video of the hostage incident, which supports the [Korean] Ministry of Defence’s argument, has exceeded 1.6 million views in just two days. Videos produced in English [by the Korean Ministry of Defence] are also attracting a lot of attention, with over 400,000 views a day. Tens of thousands of comments have been left, especially those from Japanese netizens criticising the Korean Ministry of Defence. Korean netizens are countering those criticisms and [accordingly] a fierce struggle is taking place online.
Despite the release of the Korean MoD’s video, Japan has not refuted the claim that the Korean Navy has locked targeting radar on a Japanese patrol craft [the original controversy]. On Japan’s NHK Sun Discussion television programme Prime Minister Abe said “the Korean MoD has already launched an investigation into the launching of a fire control radar.” Abe and Japan have failed to point out that the Japanese aircraft was flying at threateningly low altitude.
The Korean and Japanese defence authorities have been in contact to organise a practical discussion of the incident, but have yet to confirm the date and place of the meeting. However, even if such a meeting does take case, it is unlikely that Japan will withdraw its allegations, and relations between Korea and Japan will remain tense for the time being.
Analysis: The original incident took place on the 24th of December, and nearly two weeks later it’s still an important news item in Korea and, presumably, Japan. Abe’s right-wing tendencies and need for support from more extreme elements of the Japanese political scene make it important for him to leverage these kinds of incidents – even if the video does appear to support Korea’s version of events.