[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Foreign Minister Park Jin stated on the 20th, "We have agreed to continue shuttle diplomacy with Japan and to comprehensively discuss the normalization of the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and Japan's export restrictions on Korea."
After completing a 2-night, 3-day visit to Japan and returning home that afternoon, Minister Park met with reporters at Gimpo Airport and said, "Communication between Korea and Japan has been lacking and trust has been greatly damaged, but through this bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister, we achieved progress in that regard."
Minister Park departed for Japan on the 18th, held a Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa, and paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, delivering President Yoon Suk-yeol's message of willingness to improve Korea-Japan relations.
Minister Park explained, "We conveyed our efforts to find a solution to the issue of victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period to the Japanese side," and added, "I urged Foreign Minister Hayashi and Prime Minister Kishida to respond sincerely."
He expressed his intention to continue communication with Japan on this issue, saying, "We will gather all various opinions to devise a desirable solution, and shuttle diplomacy will continue going forward."
Regarding whether Japan's export restrictions on Korea could be lifted within this year, he replied, "We have not set a specific timeline yet," and said, "In meetings with Japanese business leaders, we discussed that export restrictions ultimately harm both sides and that lifting them is necessary for both countries to respond effectively in an era of rapidly changing global supply chains."
He emphasized, "I felt like I was on a Joseon Tongsinsa mission to resolve the complicated issues between Korea and Japan," and added, "What is most needed now between Korea and Japan is to restore communication and trust and revive the spirit of Seongsin Gyorin (誠信交隣, sincere and faithful neighborly relations)."
Meanwhile, Minister Park said that after visiting the United States and Japan since his inauguration, he is preparing for a visit to China next month. He stated, "During the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting, I had a meeting with Wang Yi, China's State Councilor and Foreign Minister, who proposed holding our next meeting during a visit to China in August, and I accepted. Although the date has not been set, I expect a Korea-China foreign ministers' meeting to take place in August." kiki@yna.co.kr
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