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South Korea, North Korea, and Japan have had disputes concerning many
things. Korea and Japan hadn't have a friendly relationship in history, even
today; however, the countries are trying to maintain cooperation and
friendship. These below are some of the issues that are still argued about.
Korea
Some South Koreans claim that Japanese intentionally promoted the
spelling of Korea instead of Corea during the colonial era, the reason being
that K comes after J in the Latin alphabet. In 1594, the map created by
Petro Plancio of the Netherlands is known to be the oldest existing map in
Europe that made reference to Korea with the marking Corea.
Dok-do/Takeshima
A small island between Japan and Korea, which is currently occupied by
the Korean navy. Called "Takeshima" in Japanese and "Dok-do" in Korean, its
sovereignty has long been disputed among Japan, South Korea, and (less
vigorously) North Korea.
Hangeul/Jindai-Moji
Called Jindai-Moji in Japanese, and Sindae-Munja in Korean. It is a
series of scripts that the Japanese created at their height of nationalism.
Some scripts looked similar to Chinese, but the Ahiru (rarely called Ahillu)
script was one of the few that resembled the Korean writing system, Hangeul.
The nationalists claimed that the scripts were the creation of Shinto gods.
Today, the Jindai-Moji's fake origins are pointed out by many scholars;
however, some scholars consider it one of Hangeul's earlier forms.
Korean Government Policies
Since regaining independence from Japan after World War II, South Korea
has persistently enforced anti-Japanese policies. Some historians believe
the resentment arose due to Koreans adopting many aspects of Japanese
culture as they modernized their industry. Before and during World War II,
occupying Japanese forces applied policies of enforced assimilation among
Koreans, further causing some of the anti-Japanese ideology in Korea. Anti-Koreanism
is also strong in Japan.
North Korean nuclear weapons claims
Japan opposes the claimed North Korean development of nuclear weapons,
stating it is a direct threat to Japan's national security. North Korea's
stated position is that this is a matter for discussion solely between North
Korea and the USA.
North Korean kidnapping of Japanese citizens
In 2002, Kim Jong Il of North Korea stated that North Korean agents had
kidnapped Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s, apparently as a method
of training. Five of these abducted Japanese have been allowed to return to
Japan, but others may have been abducted, and if so, they remain in North
Korea. A dispute continues over the ability of the children and relatives of
these five abductees to join their parents in Japan.
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