Abe: "Expecting Korea to Keep International Promises and Build a Future-Oriented Relationship"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Jung Hyunjin Reporter] Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated on the 20th that for the improvement of Korea-Japan relations, the South Korean government must abide by the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement signed in 1965.

According to the Nihon Keizai Shimbun and others, Prime Minister Abe, in his policy speech at the 201st regular Diet session (House of Representatives and House of Councillors) held that day, said, "Korea is originally the most important neighboring country with which we share fundamental values and strategic interests," adding, "Therefore, I expect (Korea) to keep promises between nations and build a future-oriented bilateral relationship."

Prime Minister Abe has repeatedly made the same claim regarding the forced labor issue. In his speech at the extraordinary Diet session in October last year and during the summit meeting with President Moon Jae-in on December 24 last year, he emphasized that Korea must comply with international law and that the South Korean government should take responsibility and resolve the issue. However, considering that Korea was not mentioned in last year's policy speech, some evaluations suggest that the deterioration of Korea-Japan relations may have somewhat eased.

Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu also stated in his diplomatic speech at the regular Diet session that day, "We will continue to strongly request the Korean side to present solutions as the party responsible for the 'former Korean Peninsula laborers,' the biggest issue between Japan and Korea, and continue diplomatic consultations to resolve the problem." The Japanese government refers to the forced labor victims who filed lawsuits as "former Korean Peninsula laborers" to deny the forced mobilization of the labor victims.

Meanwhile, in his speech that day, Prime Minister Abe reiterated his existing stance on North Korea, saying, "I am determined to meet Chairman Kim Jong-un without attaching any conditions to resolve the abduction issue." Regarding future diplomatic policy, Abe defined this year as "a crucial year to establish a new era of Japanese diplomacy that settles postwar diplomacy."