Opposition to Japan’s Membership at the UN Security Council

Seoul National University’s Professorial Council (Professor Shin Yong-Ha, president of the council) announced yesterday that SNU’s PC expressed its regret for the Japan’s history textbook distortion and sent a letter to UN opposing to Japan’s permanent membership at the UN Security Council.

It is unusual for SNU professors to make a public statement with regard to the international issue. The letter was sent to Harri Holkeri, President of the General Assembly, Kofi Anna, UN Secretary General, and James Cunningham, chairperson of the UN Security Council, respectively.

SNU PC said that ``2002 year version of the Japan’s history textbook contains the contents which praise the Japan’s war crimes instead of repenting. Japan, former war crime nation, cannot be a permanent member at the UN Security Council which keeps peace and security of the world.``

SNU PC also pointed out that ``the Japanese government instigated to use the expressions, such as Japan’s ‘advancing into’ Korea and other Asian countries, instead of ‘aggression’. The Japanese history textbook also described the Pacific War as ‘War of Liberation’ instead of ‘War of Aggression’.`` SNU PC also warned that ``the Japanese government seeks to educate the ‘aggression’ policy and ideology to the 21st century Japanese people.``

Professor Shin said, ``Dispatched letter was passed unanimously at the PC executive meeting. We, the professors, cannot overlook the Japanese government that intends to educate the distorted history, and the Japan will not be able to have a permanent membership at the UN Security Council unless the history textbook is corrected.``

SNU PC will have the press interview at 10 a.m. on 23rd, and will ask for the participation of Korean professors in the U.S. in sending an opposition letter to the UN. After consulting the National Professorial Council, SNU PC will also announce a plan for the large scale movement that will oppose Japan’s permanent membership at the UN Security Council.

Meanwhile, an official of Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said that ``the Japanese has been hoping to be a permanent member at the UN Security Council since Kono Yohei, Japan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, made a keynote speech at the UN General Assembly in 1994. To be a permanent member at the UN Security Council is a long-cherished desire of the Japanese’ government. The U.S. and other European member countries are supporting Japan’s permanent membership at the UN Security Council. However, if Korea and China, direct victims of Japan’s aggression during the World War II, oppose to Japan’s permanent membership, it will be very difficult for Japan to be a permanent member.``

credo@donga.com