Claims by both South Korea and Japan are extensive, and documented in colorful brochures which are available on their official websites (interestingly, both offer such brochures in 10 languages). But the antagonism between them lies deeper than a cluster of islands set between the two neighbors. Yes, there are abundant fish resources around the islands, but the dispute is not merely about economics. And even though a landmark deal for intelligence-sharing between the two countries was torpedoed by South Korean politicians last month, the dispute is also not just about politics. Rather, the crux of the dispute lies in history, or more specifically, Japan's refusal to make amends for its wartime past.
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