The June 4 AFP-JIJI article "South Korean president gets baptism by fire" is interesting for many reasons. I lived in a small town in North Korea until the end of 1950. I remember colonial life before 1945.
My point is the present reality in East Asia. Even though bitter animosities existed among Japan, Korea and China in the past and they agreed to set aside their differences, the reality truly requires mutual understanding and cooperation among them.
Mutual cooperation will be good for the average citizens of all three countries rather than a continuation of the ruling-class mentality of the past. Democracy is for the people, not for the minority ruling class.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.