Japanese Media: "Appointment of Jeong Eui-yong as South Korean Foreign Minister Reflects Consideration of North Korea and the US"

▲ Jeong Eui-yong, Minister of Foreign Affairs nominee [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Japanese major foreign media interpreted President Moon Jae-in's appointment of former Blue House National Security Office chief Chung Eui-yong as Minister of Foreign Affairs on the 20th as "a move to strengthen Korea-US relations and improve inter-Korean relations."

On the same day, Kyodo News introduced Chung Eui-yong, the nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, as having served as the head of foreign affairs and security, the National Security Office, from May 2017 when the Moon Jae-in administration began until July last year, and being involved in inter-Korean or Korea-US-Japan talks on North Korea's denuclearization.

Kyodo News reported that this personnel appointment appears to reflect the intention to strengthen Korea-US-Japan cooperation and aim for the reconstruction of the stalled inter-Korean relations.

In this regard, Kyodo News highlighted that in March 2018, Chung visited Pyongyang as a special envoy of President Moon and met with North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, agreeing to hold an inter-Korean summit in April of the same year, and that immediately after his visit to North Korea, he went to the United States to deliver Kim's message to President Donald Trump, which led to the historic first North Korea-US summit.

NHK analyzed, "The appointment of the experienced and trustworthy former chief Chung as foreign minister shows an intention to rebuild Korea-US relations and continue improving inter-Korean relations."

At a regular press conference held on the same day, Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Kato Katsunobu refrained from making specific comments on the change of South Korea's foreign minister, calling it "personnel matters of another country's government."

He added, "Although Korea and Japan are important neighboring countries to each other, the relationship is currently very difficult due to recent issues such as forced labor and the Japanese military comfort women," and said, "Regarding issues between the two countries, Japan will strongly demand appropriate responses from the Korean side based on Japan's consistent position going forward."