Between History and Security: South Korea and Japan's Uneasy Relationship

This week we unpack the complex and often fraught relationship between South Korea and Japan — tracing historical grievances from Japan's colonial rule and wartime abuses, key disputes like comfort women, forced labor rulings, and over the Dokdo/Takeshima islands, and recent diplomatic steps toward cooperation. At a time when North Korea is building up its nuclear arsenal and China has responded with fury to Japan’s indication of support in the event of invasion of Taiwan, this cooperation has perhaps never before been more needed for ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific region as a whole. The U.S. is watching closely, expecting its allies to play a greater part in protecting their own security.

Intentions and prayers start at 20 minutes 23 seconds.

Suggested Intention Focus for this week

This week, as we contemplate the uneasy but essential relationship between South Korea and Japan for maintaining peace in the wider Indo-Pacific region, we suggest holding as our main intention:

We will that the peoples of South Korea and Japan will be moved to exchange friendship to each other on all levels, including through cultural exchange and having an honest and respectful appreciation of each other’s history.

Please join us in holding this.

Chapter markers:

00:00:00            Introduction

00:01:06            Understanding Korea-Japan Relations

00:03:06            Historical Context of Tensions

00:06:21            Recent Diplomatic Efforts

00:10:38            Current Relations Overview

00:12:04            Territorial Disputes and Tensions

00:13:34            Regional Security Challenges

00:16:48            Future Cooperation Prospects

00:20:23            Intentions and Prayers

00:22:54            Generational Responsibilities

00:24:32            The Nature of Apology

Sources referenced in this episode:

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-sees-no-scientific-problem-with-fukushima-water-release-plan-2023-08-22/

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230705004100315

https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2025/11/18/china-and-japan-clash-over-taiwan/

https://www.crisisgroup.org/asia-pacific/north-east-asia/chinajapan

https://warontherocks.com/2026/02/deterrence-wont-fail-in-the-taiwan-strait-it-will-be-bypassed/

https://english.kyodonews.net/articles/-/64320

https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20260207000500315

https://carnegieendowment.org/posts/2023/02/japans-new-defense-budget-is-still-not-enough?lang=en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan–South_Korea_relations    

https://keia.org/the-peninsula/2025-year-in-review-progress-tensions-and-what-comes-next-for-south-korea-and-japan/  

https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/09/12/historical-memories-haunt-south-korea-japan-relations/

https://www.usip.org/programs/resolving-tensions-between-south-korea-and-japan-essay-series 

https://read.dukeupress.edu/journal-of-asian-studies/article/81/3/475/342442   

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/japans-takaichi-south-koreas-lee-meet-discuss-security-economic-ties-2026-01-13/

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-japan-defence-ministers-agree-upgrade-cooperation-2026-01-30/ 

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/south-korea-president-says-japan-china-dispute-not-desirable-regional-peace-2026-01-12/

https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/F7DDA42D3881CFF2E83B475739C8BB7C/S0020818322000194a.pdf/div-class-title-memory-institutions-and-the-domestic-politics-of-south-korean-japanese-relations-div.pdf

https://www.reuters.com/article/world/japan-stands-by-apologies-for-war-aggression-as-textbook-row-re-emerges-idUSBREA0G0IK/

https://ifex.org/south-koreans-clash-over-history-books/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controversies_surrounding_Yasukuni_Shrine  

https://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/south-korea-japan-and-wartime-shadows   

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/korea-japan-rapprochement-creates-new-opportunities-in-the-indo-pacific/  

https://thediplomat.com/2021/11/why-did-the-2015-japan-korea-comfort-women-agreement-fall-apart/

https://www.stimson.org/2015/japan-south-korea-reach-agreement-comfort-women/  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan–South_Korea_Joint_Declaration_of_1998  

https://smallwarsjournal.com/2025/05/28/china-japan-south-korea-north-korea-security-cooperation/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korea_under_Japanese_rule

https://jp.reuters.com/article/world/south-korea-japan-agree-to-irreversibly-end-comfort-women-row-idUSKBN0UB0DT/  

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/3/22/japan-south-korea-and-chinas-fm-pledge-mutual-understanding

Join us in person for intention holding: 

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.  

Our websites: 

www.heartfulimpact.com/   Our show website.  

https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.  

https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.  

https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.  

https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.  

Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.  

Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.  

Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.  

Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).  

Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.  

Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.