6 Reasons to Build an Underwater Tunnel from Japan to South Korea
The idea came up in 2002 when Japan and South Korea hosted the World Cup.
The idea then was to try to bring the two countries closer together. A railway tunnel connecting Japan to South Korea is another step. Ten Japanese lawmakers are interested in the idea of hooking Japan's Karatsu with South Korea's Busan via Japan's Iki and Tsushima Islands.
Why?
1. A symbol of peace-building says Japan's former defense chief.
2. Improve the fragile relationship between South Korea and Japan. Japan annexed South Korea from 1910-1945 and Korea has not forgotten still.
3. Ties between the countries soured more from 2001-2006 when then PM Koizumi continued to visit a war shrine with Japanese war criminals.
4. The new PM Fukuda wants to improve ties with Japan's neighbors. No time like the present.
5. Japan, like Britain, can take one small step to rid itself of its identity as an island country separated from a vast continent.
6. Improve trade between the two countries. Who needs the improvement more? Japan or South Korea.
Britain and France connected via an underwater railway in 1994.
Is it Japan and Korea's turn now?
