Yomiuri: "Foreign Minister Park Jin to Visit Japan Next Month... Foreign Ministers' Meeting"

Discussion on Bilateral Issues Including Compensation for Forced Mobilization Victims During the Japanese Colonial Period

Foreign Minister Park Jin is briefing on the results of the South Korea-US summit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government Seoul Building, Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] Foreign Minister Park Jin is reportedly coordinating his schedule in response to a visit request from Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, according to foreign media reports.

Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun reported on the 25th that Minister Park will visit Japan next month for the first time since taking office and hold talks with Foreign Minister Hayashi.

According to the report, Minister Park plans to discuss bilateral issues, including compensation for victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, to facilitate a Korea-Japan summit. There are numerous difficult issues between Korea and Japan, not only the forced labor victim issue but also the Japanese military comfort women, Japan's export restrictions, and the UNESCO World Heritage registration of Sado Mine, a forced labor site during the Japanese colonial period.

Yomiuri predicted, "Minister Park will convey to Japan his position to promptly resolve bilateral issues." It also reported, "Since the Korea-Japan leaders are scheduled to attend the NATO summit held in Madrid, Spain, in late June, Minister Park is expected to express his desire to hold a Korea-Japan summit at this meeting and agree on a broad framework for normalizing relations."

Meanwhile, during a phone call on the same day, the two ministers pointed out that North Korea's consecutive launches of missiles presumed to be intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and short-range ballistic missiles clearly violate multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. They also condemned North Korea's actions as serious provocations threatening peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and internationally. They plan to closely monitor North Korea's developments, maintain close communication, and strengthen trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.