I stood at the precipice of Tsushima, a small island that sits in the narrow strait that divides Japan from South Korea, the closest neighbors but often distant partners. The view across the water of the Korean Peninsula, shrouded in a morning mist, was beautiful and deceptively serene. But the history between these two nations is often turbulent and contentious, shaped by centuries of conflict, colonization, and uneasy coexistence. **A Tangled History** The early relationship between Japan and Korea was complex, with periods of cooperation and conflict. In the early centuries AD, Korea’s advanced culture influenced Japan, and the two nations traded and shared knowledge. However, in the 16th century, Japan invaded Korea twice, leaving a legacy of bitterness and resentment. In the 20th century, Japan colonized Korea from 1910 to 1945, a period of brutal oppression that Japan has never fully apologized for. After World War II, the two nations found themselves on opposite sides of the Cold War, with Japan aligning with the United States and South Korea aligning with the Soviet Union. **Contentious Issues** Today, the relationship between Japan and South Korea remains strained by a number of unresolved historical and territorial issues. One of the most contentious is the issue of .
For Japan and South Korea, Sharing a Past, Present and Uncertain Future
