Kishida: "Korea-Japan Summit Meeting, Opportunity to Strengthen Bilateral Relations"

Yoon to Visit Japan for Summit on 16-17

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has indicated his intention to use the summit meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol as a stepping stone to restore bilateral relations.

At a press conference held at the Tokyo Prime Minister's Official Residence on the 9th, Prime Minister Kishida stated, "President Yoon Suk-yeol will visit Japan on the 16th and 17th for a summit meeting and dinner," adding, "We will take this opportunity to work towards strengthening the relationship between the two countries." He also said, "We appreciate the South Korean government's announcement of measures regarding the issue of former Korean Peninsula laborers (the Japanese term for forced laborers during Japanese colonial rule)."

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
Photo by Yonhap News

Kyodo News, citing diplomatic sources, reported, "The Japanese government has begun coordinating to invite President Yoon to the G7 summit in Hiroshima in May," adding, "During President Yoon's stay in Japan, Prime Minister Kishida will hold talks with him and make a final judgment after observing whether South Korea steadily implements solutions to the forced labor lawsuit issue."

Japan, as the G7 chair country this year, is reportedly considering inviting President Yoon to the expanded meeting held during the G7 summit from May 19 to 21.