When Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited Korea, Japanese media argued that he should have directly mentioned apology and reflection on the issue of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period at a joint press conference with President Yoon Seok-yeol after the Korea-Japan summit.
The Tokyo Shimbun published an editorial on the 9th, saying, “Prime Minister Kishida’s visit to Korea has been accelerated, considering that President Yoon, who visited Japan in March, is criticized in Korea for carrying out ‘submissive diplomacy toward Japan’, improving Korea-Japan relations is beneficial to both countries. It was because it was necessary to let people know that it would happen.”
Regarding Prime Minister Kishida’s remarks that he was “heartbroken” with the victims of forced labor in mind, on the premise that it was his personal opinion, the newspaper said, “There are more voices welcoming it in Korea with expressions containing emotions than before.” There were many expressions,” he said.
He said, “Shouldn’t we have responded to President Yoon’s determination to improve relations with Japan by expressing his intention to reflect and apologize more directly, prepared for domestic criticism?”
The newspaper said that “shuttle diplomacy,” in which the heads of Korea and Japan visit each other on a regular basis, was suspended due to confrontation due to historical awareness, and requested that “the heads of both countries and the governments must show their intention to strongly continue and develop shuttle diplomacy.”
On that day, the Mainichi Shimbun evaluated Prime Minister Kishida’s personal opinion regrettable as “the result of reflecting the Japanese government’s position that the issue of compensation for conscription was ended with the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement.”
“Former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe expressed ‘apology and remorse from the heart’ at the time of the comfort women agreement in 2015, but as the agreement was virtually canceled afterwards, dissatisfaction with the mention of apology intensified within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party,” it reported.
In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun, an official at the Japanese Prime Minister’s residence said, “If you say an apology, there is a possibility that (Korea) will ask for an apology again later.” revealed
In an editorial on the same day, the Yomiuri Shimbun said, “There is criticism in Korea that President Yoon has made excessive concessions (to Japan), and if Japan just sits by on President Yoon’s efforts, the situation can turn around.” “Prime Minister Kishida’s expression of regret is There is an intention to positively evaluate President Yoon’s political decision and to soften the backlash in Korea.”
At the same time, he introduced the current status of the Korean government’s implementation of the conscription compensation solution and added, “Prime Minister Kishida should not forget the importance of being considerate of the other party’s position.”
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.