By Kim Ki-tae
Staff Reporter

Japanese Nobel Prize laurate Kenzaburo Oe on Monday expressed concerns over his nation’s military ambition.

``From late last year, Japan’s ruling party has been endeavering to revise the article nine of the constitution to increase the nation’s armament.’’ he said in a news conference held at the Sejong Cener for the Performing Arts, in central Seoul. ``It scares me.’’

The Japanese novelist is currently in Korea to attend the three-day Seoul International Forum for Literature, starting Tuesday.

``Not only many politicians, but Japan’s business circles, such as the Japanese Federation of Economic Organization, shows signs of moving to revise the article nine,’’ Oe said.

Currenlty, the constitution’s article nine, dubbed the ``no war’’ article, stipulates Japan’s renounciation of the use or threat of the use of military force as a means of settling international disputes. The nation adopted the article in 1947 just after its surrender to the U.S.

``The move for the revision has been apprarent since last year,’’ Oe said.

He noted that Japan actually has been violating the article of the postwar consititution. ``We actually run the Japanese Self-Defense Force and administer budgets for it. Indeed, we have already dispatched troops to Iraq,’’ he noted.

``I am deeply worried about the situation, as I think you also would be,’’ he said.

The 70-year-old novelist, who won the Noble Prize in Literature in 1994, launched a civic movement called ``Gathering for Article 9’’ last year to protect the key article.

``We have lectured around Japan for the cause, he said. ``Around 25,000 people attended them and some 1,500 small groups have mushroomed against the revision.’’ Oe said the groups plan to hold a gathering of around 10,000 early next year.

Oe said he was ``deeply impressed’’ by President Roh Moo-hyun’s two speeches back in March when the diplomatic tension between Seoul and Tokyo culminated. The president then demanded that Japan stop glorifying militarism, and sincerely admit its past atrocities during its occupation in the early 20th century. ``I have come to Seoul now in response to the president’s demands,’’ he said.

A total of 19 foreign writers, including Oe, joined the Second Seoul International Forum, to be held at the Sejong Center in Seoul, with around 60 Korean literary figures. They are expected to adopt ``Seoul Peace Declaration’’ on Friday while visiting the truce village, or ``Panmujom,’’ located on the border with North Korea.

kkt@koreatimes.co.kr