Anchor: A leading American think tank says positive sentiment for Japan is building on the home front, while South Koreans and Chinese grow bitterer toward Tokyo.
Our Kim Soyon reports on how mistrust is growing between Japan and its two Northeast Asian neighbors.
 
Report: The U.S. Pew Research Center released the results of a multinational survey Thursday revealing the growing gap in Northeast Asian countries views on regional history.
 
In the survey, 98 percent of South Koreans said Japan has not sufficiently apologized for its military actions during the 1930s and '40s. Seventy-eight percent of Chinese people responded the same way. This figure has increased from a 2008 poll for both countries. Only a small percentage of Koreans and Chinese said they believe Tokyo has sufficiently apologized.
 
On the other hand, 48 percent of Japanese people think the apology has been sufficient. Another 15 percent think no apology is needed. Taken together, that means 63 percent of Japanese think the past is behind them.
 
This is up from 52 percent that said the apology was sufficient or unnecessary when Pew conducted the same poll in 2008. Just 28 percent said a greater apology was needed in this year’s survey.
 
Japan's image as viewed by South Korea and China has also deteriorated. Seventy-two percent of South Koreans and 78 percent of Chinese had a negative view of Japan in 2007, which rose to 77 and 90 percent respectively in the latest poll.  
 
Regarding Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, 85 percent of both Korean and Chinese respondents viewed him negatively. But at home, he is seen favorably by 71 percent of the Japanese public. 
 
Moreover, more Japanese are pushing to change their constitution so Japan can officially have a military and declare war. Fifty-six percent were opposed to the change this year, down from 67 percent in 2006.
 
The survey was conducted in March and April over the phone or via questionnaire.
 
Kim Soyon, KBS World Radio News.