Suga, Japanese Prime Minister, after meeting Moon: "Korean side must propose solutions for forced labor and comfort women issues"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Yoshihide Suga, Prime Minister of Japan, who visited the UK to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit, reportedly reiterated the existing stance that the South Korean side must present solutions regarding the forced labor and comfort women issues after meeting with President Moon Jae-in.

According to Japanese media such as Kyodo News and Mainichi Shimbun on the 14th, Prime Minister Suga made these remarks to accompanying reporters after the G7 summit held in Cornwall, UK, concluded on the afternoon of the 13th (local time).

Regarding his first face-to-face meeting with President Moon during the G7 summit, Suga said, "President Moon came to greet me at the same venue and I greeted him without causing any offense," adding, "President Moon also came to greet me during the barbecue (dinner)."

Japanese media reported that Suga expressed his hope that President Moon would demonstrate leadership on the forced labor and comfort women issues and reiterated the view that the South Korean side should propose solutions.

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

The South Korean and Japanese leaders first met and exchanged greetings at the venue on the 12th, and reportedly met again for about a minute at the dinner that same day, but no official or informal talks were held.

A trilateral summit among South Korea, the US, and Japan, planned around the G7 summit, also did not take place.

Regarding this, Kyodo News analyzed that although the US led efforts to realize the meeting, President Biden prioritized his schedule with European leaders, and "the strained South Korea-Japan relationship also appears to have had an impact."

Kyodo News reported that Suga said there is "no specific decision" on the timing of the South Korea-US-Japan summit.

Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported, "Prime Minister Suga showed a cautious attitude toward holding the South Korea-US-Japan summit," adding, "He said that considering South Korea, the situation where promises between countries are not being kept means that the environment is not suitable for holding the South Korea-US-Japan summit."

The Japanese government claims that South Korea is not honoring the 1965 South Korea-Japan Claims Agreement and the 2015 South Korea-Japan Comfort Women Agreement regarding the forced labor and comfort women issues.

According to Nihon Keizai Shimbun, Suga said about the forced labor and comfort women issues, "The South Korean side's actions are making the Japan-South Korea issues more difficult," and "South Korea needs to present a direction."