Yoon "Likely to Discuss Korea-Japan Relations and Security with Kishida... Will Protect Citizens through ROK-US-Japan Security Cooperation"

President Yoon: "North Korea Targets Power Assets on the Korean Peninsula"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to focus on the swift normalization of South Korea-Japan relations and security issues during his phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the 6th.

When President Yoon met with reporters on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, he responded to a question asking, "Besides security cooperation, will historical issues also be discussed during the scheduled South Korea-Japan summit call this afternoon?" by saying this.

President Yoon stated, "I do not know exactly what the topics will be or what will be mentioned during the call with Prime Minister Kishida, but yesterday, Kishida made quite a progressive statement in the Japanese parliament."

He continued, "Looking at public opinion in Japan's political circles so far, they are important neighbors with whom we must jointly overcome various international challenges, and there were remarks about the swift normalization of South Korea-Japan relations, so I think related matters will be mentioned."

This is interpreted as President Yoon subtly expressing expectations for progressive discussions between the two leaders on historical issues such as compensation for forced labor victims.

He also responded, "It seems there was an uproar in Japan the day before yesterday regarding intermediate-range ballistic missiles (IRBM), so I think security issues will come up in the conversation."

Regarding North Korea's missile launches, President Yoon said, "This morning, North Korea fired two short-range missiles, and the day before yesterday, they launched an IRBM passing over Japan aimed at Guam, which is about 4,000 km away. Guam is where major U.S. strategic assets deployed for the Korean Peninsula contingency are located," indicating that North Korea aims to target strategic assets related to the Korean Peninsula.

He added, "Because the (security) situation is serious, the USS Ronald Reagan, which was returning after a joint South Korea-U.S. exercise, entered our waters around 8 p.m. last night," and then emphasized, "The economy is also facing challenges, but internationally, from Ukraine to security situations, things are tough. Although the public may be worried, we will thoroughly protect the lives and safety of our people based on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation."