News Analysis: Differences on history issue undermine Seoul-Tokyo summit

South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun (2nd R) talks with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi before a joint press conference at the Presidential Office in Seoul, June 20 ,2005. Koizumi arrived in Seoul June 20 for a two-day visit. (Xinhua Photo)

South Korean President Roh Moo-Hyun (R) speaks while Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi listens at a joint press conference held at the Presidential Office in Seoul, June 20, 2005. (Xinhua Photo)

   SEOUL, June 20 (Xinhuanet) -- South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi held two-hour summit meeting on Monday, fully and deeply exchanging their views on history issue.

    In a televised joint press conference held Monday late afternoon after the summit, Roh Moo-hyun announced a two-point "low level" agreements the two countries reached prior to the summit by their diplomatic authorities.

    Japan agreed to "consider" building an alternative memorial forthe Yasukuni Shrine honoring Japanese war dead, including the class A war criminals of the World War II, in consideration of the public opinion in Japan, according to Roh.

    Koizumi's continuous respect visits to the Yasukuni Shrine always triggered strong responses from South Korea and other Asian countries who suffered a lot from the Japanese aggression decades ago.

    Moreover, the two countries agreed to launch a second joint research committee to investigate history concerning the two nations and establish a task force to develop joint school textbooks for use in the two neighboring countries.

    "We agreed to make a joint effort to make the outcome of the cooperative research of the history known widely to the peoples of the two countries and become a guideline for the writing of history books," Roh said.

    Ties between South Korea and Japan were marred by Japan's authorization of a new version of school textbooks which whitewash Japan's aggression past earlier this year.

    "We used one hour and 50 minutes to discuss history issue," said Roh, adding he and Koizumi exchanged views on various controversial history disputes, such as perception of South Korea-Japan shared history, history textbooks and Yasukuni Shrine visit, in the summit.

    "We had a very serious and frank discussions, and tried to reach consensus (on the history issue), but we failed to clinch concrete agreements in the meeting," said Roh.

    However, the South Korean president said the two sides agreed to continue exchanges in order to realize peace in the Northeast Asia.

    The Japanese prime minister said he "seriously and frankly" exchanged views with Roh over the "past, present and future of the Seoul-Tokyo ties."

    "It is important for Japan to reflect on what it should do to achieve reconciliation between the two countries," he said. "I also told President Roh that Japan should not launch war ever again."

    Koizumi said he hopes the two countries to enhance personnel, sports and culture exchanges in future.

    On the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula, Roh told reporters that they agreed to strengthen cooperation on seeking a "peaceful and diplomatic solution" to the nuclear issue.

    Koizumi said Japan hopes the six-party nuclear talks will be resumed as early as possible and South Korea, Japan and the United States will enhance coordination on the nuclear issue.

    The Japanese premier also said "I hope the inter-Korean ministerial talks a success."

    South Korea and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK)will resume ministerial-level meeting on Tuesday in Seoul.

    Koizumi arrived in Seoul earlier Monday and will leave for home on Tuesday morning. Enditem