Ambassador Yoon Deok-min to Japan says in previous day's Japanese media interview, "Cannot rule out possibility of Yoon visiting Japan within this year"
[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] The Presidential Office distanced itself on the 27th from the remarks made by Yoon Deok-min, Ambassador to Japan, in an interview with Japanese media suggesting the possibility of President Yoon Suk-yeol visiting Japan within this year, stating, "We have not heard anything yet."
A Presidential Office official responded this way to reporters who met at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the same day and mentioned reports that President Yoon would visit Japan next month.
In an interview with Kyodo News the previous day, Ambassador Yoon said, "I expect shuttle diplomacy to resume sooner than anticipated," adding, "Considering the rapidly changing international situation, the possibility of President Yoon visiting Japan within this year cannot be ruled out."
Some speculated that the interview indicated that South Korea and Japan might be coordinating President Yoon's visit to Japan next month, but the Presidential Office is taking a cautious stance.
A senior presidential official also responded "not scheduled" when Asia Economy asked about President Yoon's visit to South Korea.
Since President Yoon met with Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the NATO summit in June and the UN General Assembly in September, and held a Korea-Japan-Korea-US summit and talks in Cambodia during the ASEAN summit this month, the implication is that there is no urgent need for President Yoon to visit Japan.
In particular, it is known that the issue of compensation for forced labor, which is the biggest concern among current issues between South Korea and Japan, is not yet close to resolution.
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