Anti-Japan protesters have gathered in downtown Seoul to protest Kitazawa's visit. They say it might worsen tension on the Korean peninsula instead of solving the current issue in a peaceful way. U-Jean Jung reports from Seoul.

A small group of civic activists continued to rally against the idea of a military pact between the two countries for the second consecutive day.”

Kang Seon-il, Civic Activist, said, "The purpose of Japan's defense minister's visit is to work towards signing a military pact, in order to strengthen tri-lateral ties between South Korea, United States and Japan, and to put more pressure on the DPRK. This could lead to worsening military tension on the Korean peninsula instead of solving the current issue in a peaceful way.”

Others in South Korea, however, believed that military cooperation with its neighbor is an appropriate measure to strengthen national security, though they were cautious of the impact the pact could have on relations with neighboring allies.

Kim Sae-Jin, Passerby, said, "It is more than natural for South Korea and Japan to seek for a co-operative relationship to work on Korea's defense issue, taking the current international situation into account. And how the military pact unfolds will impact the dynamics of political relations with neighboring countries.”

Relations between South Korea and Japan could be labeled as uneasy, especially due to Japan's brutal colonial rule over the Korean peninsula during the first half of the 20th century, and continuing territorial disputes over the Island of Dokdo in the East Sea of South Korea.

The South Korean government has clearly stated that they will proceed with the military cooperation pact with Japan very slowly to consider the sensitive Korean sentiments. Before any further agreements are made, a careful analysis of the pros and cons of such a military pact must be made, in order to bring peace to the Korean peninsula and the North East Asian region.

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