Ministry of Foreign Affairs: "Korea-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting Discusses Forced Labor Issue"

26th Japan Tokyo Korea-US-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting
Discussion on Solutions for Forced Labor Compensation between Korea and Japan

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the issue of forced labor will be discussed at the Korea-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting, which will be held in conjunction with the visit of First Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong to Japan at the end of this month.

At a regular briefing on the 20th, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lim said, "So far, high-level meetings and consultations have continued at various levels between Korea and Japan, including director-general level, foreign ministers, deputy foreign ministers, as well as heads of state and prime ministers."

Spokesperson Lim added, "Through these various channels, close communication and consultations between the two countries will continue."

Vice Foreign Minister Cho will visit Japan from the 25th to the 27th to attend the 11th Korea-U.S.-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting held in Tokyo on the 26th.

During his visit, he is also scheduled to hold a separate meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Takeo Mori, Administrative Vice Minister of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Since Vice Minister Cho has been chairing a public-private consultative body in Korea to seek solutions for compensation related to forced labor, this meeting is expected to serve as a meaningful opportunity for the diplomatic authorities of both countries to discuss this issue.

When asked by reporters about Vice Minister Cho's schedule during his visit to Japan, a Foreign Ministry official said, "There is a separate schedule currently being coordinated with the Japanese side," and added, "I understand that a meeting with high-ranking Japanese officials is also included in the schedule."

Meanwhile, the Korea-U.S.-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting, hosted by Vice Minister Cho, Administrative Vice Minister Mori, and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, is expected to be a venue to discuss ways to strengthen trilateral cooperation in response to various current issues.