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| South Korean protesters stage a rally to denounce Japan's new trade restrictions on South Korea in front of the Japanese embassy in Seoul, South Korea, Saturday. AP-Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
A reshuffle at the Japanese embassy in Seoul shows Tokyo's intention to seek a strategic change in Korea affairs in the wake of the trade row and other disputes that are expected to further aggravate bilateral tension, according to diplomatic sources.
First, it is noticeable that Japan has been sending experienced diplomats to South Korea. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan appointed Soma Hirohisa as minister at the Japanese embassy in Seoul recently, the de facto No. 2 position at its South Korean mission replacing Koichi Mizushima. He will be in charge of leading both political and economic departments at the embassy. He is known as a Korea expert with experience in various economy-related administrations including the Ministry of Finance. He has previous experience at the Japanese embassy in Seoul, and has been receiving a Korea-focused education at the foreign ministry since the beginning of his career.
Tokyo has also sent diplomats with expertise in U.S. affairs to Korea. Former minister for political affairs Katsuro Kitagawa was replaced by Mibae Taisuke in June, being expected to serve as the de facto No. 3 figure in the organization. Mibae was a North Korea expert serving as a minister at the Japanese embassy in the United States before coming to Seoul. The transition signals Tokyo's possible intention to resolve problems with Seoul within the framework of U.S.-Japan cooperation.
Kohei Maruyama, a minister for economic affairs in Seoul, will be leading the Japanese consulate in Busan as consul-general, where a statue representing the victims of sex slavery during the Japanese colonial rule has been standing. Rumors have been spreading that Japanese Ambassador Nagamine Yasumasa will be replaced in a few months by Kanasugi Kenji, current director-general at the Japanese foreign ministry's Asian and Oceania affairs bureau. The director-general is the counterpart of Seoul's nuclear envoy Lee Do-hoon at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun.
Insiders say the Japanese government's reshuffle to appoint highly skilled Korea experts in Seoul could be considered as a sign to better cope with anticipated conflicts with South Korea, including the two countries' differences on the interpretation of the 1965 bilateral agreement between Seoul and Tokyo.
"Based on the fact that former key members of the embassy such as Mizushima and Kitagawa were unable to speak Korean fluently and not part of the 'Korean school' members, the lineup for the current Japanese embassy in Seoul signals that the Japanese government has paid extra attention to the reshuffle of its Seoul branch," a diplomatic source who is familiar with the matter said.
"It is highly possible that Japan is gearing up for the ongoing confrontation with South Korea by appointing highly experienced diplomats with close ties with South Koreans, especially those who served during previous liberal governments," another diplomatic source who is familiar with the matter said.
Some say the embassy reshuffle was a reflection of the Japanese Cabinet's influence over the current issues.
"The foreign ministry used to exert its power in the reshuffle. However, it is now currently done by the Cabinet. The Cabinet is less attentive to the views of diplomats than before over reshuffles and current issues," the source said. "It is largely anticipated that the Japanese government will appoint government-friendly figures to control the situation in favor of the current administration."
