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Kim Yeong-hwan, the head of external cooperation at the Center for Historical Truth and Justice, speaks at a press conference organized by Joint Action for Historical Justice and Peaceful Korea-Japan Relations outside the building that houses the Japanese Embassy in Seoul on Dec. 20, where the group denounces Japan’s plans to amend three major security documents.

South Korean civic groups denounced a planned amendment to Japan’s National Security Strategy (NSS) that includes allowing strikes against enemy military bases, which it refers to as “counterstrike capabilities.”

In August, the organization Joint Action for Historical Justice and Peaceful Korea-Japan Relations was launched by civic groups coming together to resolve historical issues between South Korea and Japan. On Tuesday morning, the organization held a press conference at the entrance to the building in which the Japanese Embassy is located, in the Junghak neighborhood of Seoul’s Jongno District.

Those present at the press conference hold up signs and chant.

In the press conference, the members criticized the NSS amendment plan announced by the Japanese government on Friday.

Amending the NSS for the first time in 10 years, the Japanese government permitted “counterstrike capabilities,” explaining that as “a measure for self-defense to the minimum required level to prevent missile attacks,” it would “utilize capabilities including stand-off defense capabilities to enable Japan to conduct effective counterstrike in opponent’s area.”

The change introduces new aggressive capabilities to a Japanese security strategy that had been focused on defense for over 70 years since the country’s Pacific War defeat, based on the principle of “exclusively defense-oriented policies” allowing for the exercise of defense capabilities only when under attack.

A person present at the press conference holds up a sign reading, “Call off SK-US-JP military cooperation, which condones Japanese militarism!”

The amendment of three key security documents in Japan — including not only the NSS but also the National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup Program — was denounced by the press conference participants on Tuesday as a “rearmament of Japan” and “attempt to revive militarism.” The participants also called on the Yoon Suk-yeol administration to abandon its “capitulating” approach to Japanese diplomacy and discontinue its trilateral military cooperation with the US and Japan.

After the press conference, the participants attempted to deliver a letter of protest to the Japanese Embassy but were stopped by police. The following images were taken at the scene.

Members of Joint Action for Historical Justice and Peaceful Korea-Japan Relations attempted to deliver a letter of protest to the Japanese Embassy, but were stopped by police. After being stopped, some rally attendees placed their signs on police shields and barriers.

Members of Joint Action for Historical Justice and Peaceful Korea-Japan Relations protest after they attempted to deliver a letter of protest to the Japanese Embassy, but were stopped by police.

Signs lie at the feet of police who prevented Joint Action for Historical Justice and Peaceful Korea-Japan Relations from presenting a letter of protest to the Japanese Embassy during their Dec. 20 press conference.

Photos and article by Kim Hye-yun, staff reporter

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