"Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Likely to Only Express Continuation of Past Stance at Korea-Japan Summit"

"Concerns Over Nullification After Regime Change"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is expected to only express his intention to inherit the historical awareness of past Japanese cabinets regarding historical issues during the summit with President Yoon Suk-yeol to be held in Tokyo on the 16th.

Japan's Jiji Press reported this on the 12th.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Earlier, on the 6th, after the South Korean government announced a solution to the forced labor issue during Japanese colonial rule, Prime Minister Kishida stated that he would "inherit the historical awareness of past cabinets, including the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration." Additionally, Prime Minister Kishida and Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi announced that they would inherit past statements rather than issue a new apology or expression of remorse, and did not mention expressions included in those statements such as "deep remorse" or "heartfelt apology."

Jiji explained that the reason Kishida is expected to only express the intention to inherit the awareness of past Japanese cabinets is due to concerns that even if a new apology is made to promote a future-oriented approach, South Korea might overturn it again.

During the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women agreement, then-Foreign Minister Kishida held a joint press conference with then-Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se to announce the agreement. However, the Japanese government perceives that the agreement was effectively nullified after the change of the South Korean administration.

Jiji also interpreted that the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration’s mention of an apology for colonial rule and a future-oriented approach is considered appropriate, and that there is also consideration for the conservative faction within Japan.