Korea-Japan Lawmakers "Strongly Condemn North Korea's Missile Provocations... Need to Normalize Bilateral Relations"

Jin Jeong-seok, Chairman of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League (second from the right), and Nukaga Fukushiro, Chairman of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League (second from the left), are shaking hands at the opening ceremony of the joint general meeting of the Korea-Japan and Japan-Korea Parliamentary Leagues held on the 3rd at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. (Seoul=Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Gong Byung-sun] South Korean and Japanese lawmakers strongly condemned North Korea's missile provocations and agreed on the need to normalize bilateral relations.

On the 3rd, the 'Korea-Japan Parliamentarians' Union,' composed of South Korean ruling and opposition lawmakers, and the Japanese lawmakers' group 'Japan-Korea Parliamentarians' Union' held a joint general meeting at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, and issued a joint statement.

In the statement, the lawmakers expressed concern over conflicts between the two countries regarding historical issues such as lawsuits related to former forced laborers and strengthened export controls targeting South Korea, stating, "We agreed that to overcome this situation, the Korea-Japan relationship must be normalized promptly."

The statement included calls to return to the spirit of the 1998 'Kim Dae-jung?Obuchi Korea-Japan Partnership' declaration and urged the leaders of both countries to pursue serious talks and a new Korea-Japan relationship to resolve various pending issues.

Additionally, the lawmakers strongly condemned North Korea's missile provocations. They stated, "We will actively promote security dialogues between the parliaments of Korea and Japan," and "We agreed to urge our respective governments to take appropriate measures to resolve the issues of abductee human rights and humanitarian aid to North Korea." They also plan to promote security dialogues among major Northeast Asian countries at the parliamentary level.

They also agreed to strengthen exchanges between the two countries. Cooperation will be enhanced in economic security areas such as energy security and supply chain reinforcement, and youth exchanges through music, including K-pop, will be promoted. Efforts will be made to restore the honor of Korean 'Class B war criminals' who were mobilized by the Japanese imperial forces during the Pacific War, and to resolve historical issues based on mutual reciprocity, as well as to conduct research on pre-modern Korea-Japan exchanges such as the 'Joseon Tongsinsa' missions.

The Korea-Japan high school student exchange program, which was suspended due to COVID-19 and deteriorating bilateral relations, will also be resumed. The statement includes commitments by the parliamentary unions of both countries to make every effort for the success of the Osaka-Kansai Expo in 2025 and the bid to host the 2030 Busan Expo.

They pledged to make the 'Hate Speech Elimination Act,' enacted in Japan six years ago to stop hate expressions, more effective, and to work on legislative measures to restore the honor and special permanent resident status of victims of espionage cases involving Korean residents in Japan during the 1970s and 1980s.

To expand women's political participation, the statement revealed plans to introduce quotas for National Assembly and local council elections and to address issues faced by women in both countries, such as gender wage gaps and irregular employment.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers decided to jointly promote special events next year to mark the 25th anniversary of the Kim Dae-jung?Obuchi Korea-Japan Partnership declaration.