With the announcement of a solution to compensation for forced labor during the Japanese colonial era, trilateral cooperation between Korea, the U.S. and Japan is expected to accelerate through the Korea-Japan summit in March, the Korea-US in April, and the Korea-US-Japan in May.
On the 7th, the Office of the President took the position that the specific time and schedule have not yet been set regarding President Yoon Seok-yeol’s visit to Japan this month, which is likely due to the compensation plan for forced labor.
Initially, there were observations that a Korea-Japan summit could be held at the end of this month, but Japanese media are mentioning the middle of this month.
The previous day, Japan’s Kyodo News and NHK Broadcasting, citing diplomatic sources in Korea and Japan, reported that President Yoon was visiting Japan on the 16th and 17th and was coordinating the direction of talks with Fumio Kishida Japan.
The day before, when asked about the possibility of a Korea-Japan summit meeting in March, the presidential office said, “We haven’t started discussing it yet.”
However, as the Korean government tried to settle the issue of compensation for forced labor, which was the biggest pending issue between the two countries, and the Japanese government responded positively, the meeting between the leaders of Korea and Japan in March seems to be riding a fast pace.
In fact, if President Yoon’s visit to Japan is made, it will be the first time in about four years at the top level since former President Moon Jae-in visited Osaka to attend the G20 summit in June 2019.
President Yoon’s visit to Japan also has the meaning of being the starting point for restoring shuttle diplomacy between Korea and Japan, which has been suspended for 12 years. Shuttle diplomacy between Korea and Japan has been suspended since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda visited Korea in October 2011 and former President Lee Myung-bak visited Japan in December of the same year.
President Yoon emphasized the restoration of Korea-Japan relations at the cabinet meeting that day.
In his opening remarks, President Yoon said, “It is clear that future-oriented cooperation between Korea and Japan will protect freedom, peace and prosperity not only in Korea and Japan, but also in the world as a whole.”
In addition, while the plan for the Korea-US summit in April is taking shape, the Korea-US-Japan summit in May is also in sight.
Regarding the Korea-US summit, Kim Seong-han, head of the National Security Office, has been visiting Washington, DC, for five days and three nights since the 5th. Director Kim is expected to finalize the timing and level of President Yoon’s visit to the U.S. through discussions with senior White House officials. Currently, it is widely believed that President Yoon will pay a state visit to the United States.
In particular, if President Yoon meets with Prime Minister Kishida in Japan during this month and promises to strengthen cooperation for a new Korea-Japan relationship, a Korea-US-Japan summit in May can be foreseen. The Japanese government is known to be considering inviting South Korea to the G7 summit to be held in Hiroshima in May, with President Yoon hoping to visit Japan this month.
The trilateral summit between Korea, the U.S. and Japan was held twice last year.
The heads of Korea, the U.S. and Japan met separately at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit held in Madrid, Spain in June last year, and held a summit in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in November.
In the previous two summits, the three countries of Korea, the US and Japan promised to respond to North Korea’s nuclear program and strengthen security cooperation, establishing a ‘united front’ to counter China’s growing influence, but the strained relationship between Korea and Japan acted as a stumbling block.
Analysts say that the forced labor solution will improve South Korea-Japan relations and facilitate smoother cooperation in areas such as security and global supply chains.
President Biden made a statement immediately after South Korea announced the compensation plan for forced labor and said, “I look forward to continuing to strengthen and improve the ties between Korea, the United States and Japan.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.