Park suggests joint history textbook for Northeast Asia
朴槿惠建议东北亚统一历史教科书

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has proposed that Northeast Asian nations write a joint history textbook. She says it may help resolve problems concerning history in the region. Park was speaking at an academic conference in Seoul on Thursday. She says Northeast Asia should learn from the way European nations tried to heal the wounds of World War Two wounds and bond closely together.

The South Korean President is seeking a Northeast Asia peace and cooperation initiative. And for Park Geun-hye, that includes tearing down the wall of the problems of history. She says a joint textbook on the region may bring that day closer.

Park envisions a process that calls for building trust step-by-step, beginning with softer, non-political issues, such as environmental issues, disaster relief, nuclear safety and counter-terrorism. But experts note Japan and South Korea have entered a rare phase of bad relations.

"The South Korean government has emphasized peace and cooperation in the Northeast Asia. But Japan never shows its sincerity towards the issues such as sexual enslavement of Korean women for its troops during World War Two and territorial disputes over the Dokdo islets." said Yang Kee-Ho, Managing Director, Korea-Japan Future Forum.

Park says she’s hoping a peaceful and cooperative regional belt will be formed to push forward the cooperation between Eurasia and the Pacific region. This requires resolving problems of history and territorial disputes between Japan and its neighbors.

"The China-Japan territorial row or issues over the perceptions of history for Japan and the South Korea would force the postponement of the three-way cooperation summit. Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the government doesn’t need to explain any more over the sexual enslavement of Korean women for its troops during World War Two as the issue has been settled. The South Korean people are indignant over that." said Yang Kee-Ho, Managing Director, Korea-Japan Future Forum.

President Park also stressed that disputes in Northeast Asia must be resolved peacefully and should never involve "military means."