Leaders of South Korea and Japan agree on working closely together to solve international and regional issues during the bilateral meeting in Seoul Sunday.
Unresolved historical disputes should South Korean President Yun Suk-yeol said he would not stand in the way of deepening relations between the two neighbors as he welcomed Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to the capital.
The leaders’ pledge to intensify cooperation has been welcomed by the United States as way to better counter threats from North Korea and competition from China.
Bilateral visit of Kishida, first Japanese leader in Seoul in 12 years old, return trip Yoon made in Tokyo in March where they sought to close the chapter on historical disputes that have dominated Japan-South Korea relations for decades.
“Cooperation and coordination between South Korea and Japan is necessary not only for V common interests of two countries But also for world peace and prosperity in V face of V current serious international situation,” Yun said. in opening remarks at their meeting.
He said that unresolved historical issues should doesn’t mean no forward steps can take and that he wants to make ties better than ever.
Kishida said he hoped to discuss bilateral ties as well as regional and global issues like North Korea with Yun.
He invited Yun to the group of Summit of the Seven (G-7) set for later this month in Japan and for tripartite negotiations with United States on sides.
Kishida will also encourage for tripartite negotiations with China already this year, Kyodo reported on Friday, citing several unnamed diplomatic sources.
“We have a lot of opportunities for collaboration when it comes to eliminating a threat of North Korea” and Ensuring a Free and Open Indo-Pacific Region, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan official said.
Focus of The summit between the two US allies is expected to focus on security cooperation. in V face of North Korean nuclear threats with special eye on American interests in in the region, Shin-wa Lee said, professor of international relations at Korea University in Seoul.
“Their military and economic opportunities are critical for promotion of multilateral regional security cooperation and poor relations between the two countries could interfere with US targets,” she said.
Historical disputes
However, the historical differences between South Korea and Japan threaten to cast a shadow. over burgeoning ties between the two leaders.
Yun facing criticism in home what did he give more what did he get in his attempts to improve relations with Japan, including by offering South Korean businesses, rather than court-ordered Japanese companies, to compensate victims of Wartime labor during the colonial occupation of Japan in 1910-1945.
South Korean officials hoped that Kishida would do something. of gesture in come back and offer some political support, although few observers expect any further official apology for historical mistakes. Yoon himself has made it clear he doesn’t believe Japan needs to “kneel” more over What’s happened in V past.
Majority of South Koreans Think Japan Didn’t Apologize Enough for atrocities during the occupation, Li said. “They think Prime Minister Kishida should show sincerity during her visit to South Korea, such as mentioning historical issues and expressing apologies,” she said. added.
On the other hand, Japan is in no hurry, said Daniel Russell. former US assistant secretary of state for East Asia and the Pacific Ocean.
“Kishida tries not to drive faster than his internal politics permission, he added.
