Jeong Eui-yong and Motegi's First Meeting... Calling for 'Korea-Japan Relations Development' but Differences on Current Issues Remain (Comprehensive)

Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong (left in photo) and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu are taking a commemorative photo after their meeting. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong and Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi Toshimitsu held their first meeting on the 5th (local time). The two ministers agreed on the need to develop Korea-Japan relations in a future-oriented manner and to continue communication, but they still showed parallel lines on issues such as the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean and historical issues.

Minister Chung, who visited London, UK, to attend the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting, and Foreign Minister Motegi held a trilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken before moving to a hotel in central London to sit down face-to-face. They held a bilateral meeting for about 20 minutes. This was the first meeting between the two since Minister Chung took office in February.

Immediately after the meeting between Minister Chung and Foreign Minister Motegi, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "The two ministers agreed on the necessity for Korea and Japan to closely cooperate for peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and the world, and to develop Korea-Japan relations in a future-oriented manner." It added, "They also agreed to continue close dialogue and communication to bring about substantial progress toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace, and to resolve Korea-Japan issues."

Minister Chung and Foreign Minister Motegi appear to have reiterated their respective positions on current issues in Korea-Japan relations, such as the decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant and historical issues.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, "Minister Chung clearly conveyed deep concerns and opposition to the Japanese government's decision to discharge contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean without sufficient prior consultation with neighboring countries." Minister Chung emphasized at the meeting that "the discharge of contaminated water should be approached very cautiously as it could pose potential threats to the health and safety of our people and the marine environment."

Regarding this, Foreign Minister Motegi reportedly expressed concerns about the Korean government's criticism of the Japanese government's decision, while stating that "(Japan) will continue to provide necessary information," according to Japan's Kyodo News.

Regarding the comfort women and forced labor lawsuits, Foreign Minister Motegi strongly urged Minister Chung to take appropriate measures on the comfort women lawsuit issue and emphasized the existing position that Korea should present an acceptable solution to the forced labor lawsuits at an early stage. In response, Minister Chung stressed that historical issues cannot be resolved without Japan's correct historical awareness and explained Korea's position regarding the comfort women and forced labor victims, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

Minister Chung and Foreign Minister Motegi first sat together at the trilateral meeting proposed by the U.S. side on that day. Before the Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting, the foreign ministers of Korea, the U.S., and Japan held a meeting for about 50 minutes to discuss the U.S.'s new North Korea policy. The Korea-U.S.-Japan foreign ministers' meeting was held for the first time in about one year and three months since the meeting between former Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha, former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and Foreign Minister Motegi at the Munich Security Conference in Germany in February last year.