Yoon Policy Coordination Group Meets Japanese Prime Minister... Exchanges Views on Korea-Japan Relations

The Korea-Japan Policy Consultation Delegation, dispatched to Japan by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol including National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-suk, arrived at the Japanese Prime Minister's Official Residence on the 26th to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Korea-Japan Policy Consultation Delegation dispatched by President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio on the morning of the 26th.

The delegation, led by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Chung Jin-seok, entered the Prime Minister's residence around 10:36 a.m. for the meeting with Prime Minister Kishida. The meeting took place from 10:40 a.m. and lasted for 20 minutes.

Mainichi Shimbun reported, "It appears that Prime Minister Kishida and the delegation exchanged views on the cooled Korea-Japan relations due to issues such as forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period and Japanese military comfort women."

Earlier, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno Hirokazu stated at a regular press conference that morning in response to related questions, "Prime Minister Kishida and I are scheduled to receive the delegation today."

The delegation is believed to have delivered a letter from President-elect Yoon to Prime Minister Kishida. The letter reportedly contains the new government's will to improve Korea-Japan relations.

Additionally, attention is focused on whether Prime Minister Kishida was invited to President-elect Yoon's inauguration ceremony scheduled for the 10th of next month. If Prime Minister Kishida attends the inauguration, it will be the first time a Japanese prime minister has done so since the inauguration of President Lee Myung-bak in 2008.

After the meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, the delegation will hold a luncheon meeting with Japanese political and business figures and meet with former Prime Minister Mori Yoshiro and Yamaguchi Natsuo, leader of the coalition ruling party Komeito.