'Korea-Iran Relations' "Entering a Stage of Mutual Understanding"
[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said on the 6th, "Regarding Korea-Japan relations, considering the current diplomatic, security, and economic situations we face, I believe we should look toward the future rather than being overly fixated on the past."
On the same day, during the National Assembly's government questioning session on politics, diplomacy, unification, and security, Prime Minister Han responded to a question from Hong Ki-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea. He added, "Regarding this issue, I believe that Korea-Japan relations should be normalized through sufficient communication with those who have experienced various domestic pains."
When Hong asked whether he agreed with the statement that "the core demands of forced labor victims are Japan's acknowledgment of responsibility and apology, and solutions without the participation of Japanese companies or the consent of victims are unacceptable," Prime Minister Han replied, "That may be the lawmaker's opinion," and stated, "We fully understand the thoughts of those who suffered such damages in our country, and I believe we must strive to find good solutions through communication with them."
Regarding Japan's export restrictions, he added, "If the overall Korea-Japan relationship is comprehensively resolved well, I hope that such issues can also be included and resolved accordingly."
Regarding President Yoon Suk-yeol's remark during his recent overseas tour that "the enemy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is Iran," Prime Minister Han said about the progress of consultations with Iran, "I believe that the relationship between Korea and Iran has entered a stage of mutual understanding through explanations and communication over time."
When asked whether President Yoon's remark was factually accurate, Prime Minister Han said, "It is not appropriate for the Prime Minister to characterize the relationship between the two countries. As the international community knows, Iran's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and its potential cooperation with North Korea lead many experts to recognize Iran as a significant concern in the Middle East."
In response to Hong's question about whether he would propose sending a special envoy to the President to resolve the current situation, Prime Minister Han said, "At present, I do not think there is a need for that."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
