The 82-minute meeting between the foreign ministers of Korea and Japan in Busan went well beyond the scheduled time.
Jin Park “Respect the 2015 agreement and strive to find a future-oriented relationship”
The foreign ministers of South Korea and Japan unanimously condemned North Korean issues, including North Korea’s armed provocations and arms trade between North Korea and Russia, and agreed to respond closely through triangular cooperation between Korea and Japan and Korea, the United States, and Japan.
However, the two ministers were unable to narrow their differences on the ruling in favor of the appellate court’s appeal for compensation for victims of Japanese military comfort women. However, both sides confirmed their fundamental position that ‘we must strive for a future-oriented relationship.’
A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official met with reporters immediately after the meeting between the Korean and Japanese foreign ministers at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Busan on this day and said, “Foreign Minister Kamikawa made comments based on Japan’s position” regarding the comfort women ruling. However, the specific content mentioned was not disclosed.
Previously, Foreign Minister Kamikawa said immediately after the news of our court’s comfort women ruling, “I am extremely sorry that it is contrary to international law and the agreement between the two countries, and I would like to request that the Korean side take appropriate measures.” It is expected that
The Japanese government has refused to respond to comfort women victims’ lawsuits, citing the principle of ‘state immunity’ under international customary law, which states that a sovereign state does not appear in the court of another country. Additionally, given that the issue has already been resolved through the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women agreement, it is extremely unlikely that the Japanese government will respond to demands for compensation for damages.
However, considering the improvement in Korea-Japan relations, the two countries are expected to refrain from escalating the war over historical issues.
This official said, “Minister Park (at the meeting) said that he respects the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women agreement as an official agreement between the two countries and that the two countries will continue to build a constructive and future-oriented relationship to restore the honor and dignity of the victims mentioned in the agreement. “I said we need to make efforts to find out,” he said.
He continued, “I understand that there was considerable controversy over the expression of the comfort women agreement in 2015,” adding, “The stance of acknowledging the agreement at the time has continued under the previous administration, and although there is controversy, the two countries are working together to restore the honor and dignity of the victims.” The emphasis is on making an effort. “In that context, we will continue to communicate on this issue between the two countries,” he added.
They also exchanged opinions on joint responses to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats and ways to strengthen cooperation with the international community. He also discussed the international situation, including the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine war.
This official said, “Minister Yang strongly condemned North Korea’s launch of the so-called military reconnaissance satellite on the 22nd, emphasizing that it is a violation of UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat to peace and stability in Northeast Asia,” adding, “North Korea’s nuclear issue, including the North Korea-Russia arms trade, etc. He said, “Korea-Japan and Korea-U.S.-Japan agreed to continue to respond closely.”
At the meeting, President Yoon Seok-yeol and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida shared their opinions at the Korea-Japan summit meeting held at Stanford University on the 17th, and agreed again to cooperate in the field of advanced technology between Korea and Japan and between Korea, the United States and Japan. Just as we recently provided emergency return support to citizens of both countries staying in Israel, we decided to promote solid cooperation between consular authorities.
It was also reported that Japan expressed its support for Korea’s bid to host the 2030 Busan World Expo (Expo).
The bilateral meeting between Minister Park and Foreign Minister Kamikawa began at 9:02 a.m. that day and ended at 10:24 a.m. It lasted 82 minutes, well beyond the originally scheduled 60 minutes.
On our side, Assistant Secretary Jeong Byeong-won, Special Assistant to the Minister Lee Dong-ryeol, Korean Peninsula Peace Negotiation Head Kim Gun, Spokesperson Lim Su-seok, Embassy in Japan Counselor Lee Han-sang, Asia-Pacific Director Seo Min-jung, and Asia-Pacific Department Director Yoon Ju-kyung attended.
On the Japanese side, Foreign Affairs Director Takehiro Funakoshi, Director of the Asia and Oceania Bureau Hiroyuki Namazu, Japanese Ambassador to Korea Koichi Aiboshi, Foreign Affairs Director Maki Kobayashi, Asia and Oceans Affairs Director Daisuke Mibae, Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Mitsuru Kodaira, and Northeast Asia Department 1 Director Tomoko Yoshihiro were present.
This is Foreign Minister Kamikawa’s first visit to Korea since taking office last September, and it has been 11 days since the foreign ministers of Korea and Japan met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in San Francisco on the 15th (local time).
After the bilateral meeting with Japan, Minister Park held a bilateral meeting with Chinese Communist Party Central Political Bureau member and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Afterwards, the foreign ministers of Korea, Japan, and China will have lunch together and then attend a trilateral meeting.
[부산=뉴시스]
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.