[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Kim Jinpyo, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea leading the Korea-Japan Parliamentary Union, said that bold decisions by political leaders of both countries are necessary to improve the deteriorating Korea-Japan relations over the past several years.
According to Kyodo News on the 20th, Kim held a meeting with Japanese correspondents in Seoul and spoke about the recently inaugurated Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and the next Korean president to be inaugurated next year, expressing hope that "they would unite their efforts and show an attitude of working for future generations, giving hope to the people of both countries."
Kim, who described Korea-Japan relations as "the closest countries on Earth," expressed regret over the deepening confrontation between the two countries due to differences in perception surrounding issues such as compensation for forced labor victims.
He emphasized that "bold decisions by (both) political leaders are necessary" to improve bilateral relations.
Regarding the Japanese government's stance that it cannot even accept discussions to resolve the issue unless the Korean government presents a solution following the Korean Supreme Court's ruling ordering Japanese companies to compensate forced labor victims, Kim criticized it as "highly inappropriate."
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