[South Korea-Japan Summit] Yoon and Kishida Declare Restoration of Shuttle Diplomacy... First Step Toward Improving Relations (Comprehensive)

Kishida Confirms Commitment to Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration
Yoon Emphasizes Willingness for Third-Party Payment
Resolve Semiconductor Top 3 Item Export Restrictions to Korea and GSOMIA Issues
Leaders United in Restarting Shuttle Diplomacy for Future Generations

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida declared the restoration of shuttle diplomacy between the two countries' leaders for the first time in 12 years during the Korea-Japan summit held on the 16th. Taking this summit as an opportunity, both Korea and Japan plan to progressively inherit the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration and seek a constructive relationship through cooperation across all fields, including economy, security, science and technology, culture, and future generations.

At a joint press conference held immediately after the Korea-Japan summit at the Prime Minister's Official Residence in Tokyo that afternoon, President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida clearly stated their intention to swiftly resolve existing contentious issues such as forced labor, export controls, and the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA).

Kishida Confirms Commitment to Inherit Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration... Yoon Emphasizes Willingness for Third-Party Compensation

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Prime Minister Kishida stated, "The Japanese government confirmed that it comprehensively inherits the positions of successive cabinets related to historical awareness, including the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration announced in October 1998 (Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration)," once again acknowledging the wrongdoings during the Japanese colonial period.

President Yoon also emphasized, "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Joint Declaration announced in 1998, which aimed to face the past and develop relations based on mutual understanding and trust," adding, "This summit has become the first step in progressively inheriting the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Joint Declaration, overcoming the unfortunate history between the two countries, and opening a new era of Korea-Japan cooperation."

Prime Minister Kishida positively evaluated the Korean government's announcement to compensate victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period through a third party.

Kishida said, "Recently, the Korean government announced measures related to the issue of former Korean Peninsula laborers," and added, "From the Japanese government's perspective, these measures are evaluated as an effort to restore Korea-Japan relations, which had been in a very severe state, to a sound relationship."

Regarding the exercise of subrogation rights by victims, he stated, "If subrogation rights are exercised, it would return all issues to their original state," and asserted, "Our government does not assume the exercise of subrogation rights in relation to the intent of the announced judicial solution," emphasizing the willingness to improve relations with Japan.

A senior official from the Presidential Office explained to the press regarding Prime Minister Kishida's commitment to inherit the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration and third-party compensation, "He said that the statements of previous governments are inherited, which includes an apology," and added, "Furthermore, President Yoon expressed a strong will to resolve the issue with a new formula, not the old one, with the intention of creating a new historical chapter considering the future generations of Korea-Japan relations."

Earlier, the Federation of Korean Industries and Keidanren (Japan Business Federation) held a joint press conference at the Keidanren Hall in Tokyo that afternoon and declared the establishment of the 'Korea-Japan Future Partnership Fund' (by the Federation of Korean Industries) and the 'Japan-Korea Future Partnership Fund' (by Keidanren) as part of joint projects. The fund size will start at 200 million yen (approximately 2 billion KRW), with each organization contributing 100 million yen (approximately 1 billion KRW). Masakazu Tokura, Chairman of Keidanren, introduced this by saying, "It is in the spirit of returning to the Korea-Japan Partnership Joint Declaration announced by President Kim Dae-jung and Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in 1998."

Resolution of Export Controls on Three Major Semiconductor Items to Korea and GSOMIA Issue

[Image source=Yonhap News]

At this summit, the Korea-Japan leaders officially agreed to lift export controls on three major semiconductor items to Korea and to restore GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement). Both leaders believe this marks a turning point for Korea and Japan to cooperate in the semiconductor sector amid global supply chain issues and economic bloc formation. They also shared the recognition that information sharing is essential in military security terms, given the increasingly serious development of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

Just before the summit, Korea and Japan agreed to lift Japan's export restrictions on three semiconductor-related items: hydrogen fluoride, fluorinated polyimide, and photoresist. The Korean government also agreed to withdraw its World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint against Japan's measures on these three items simultaneously with the implementation of changes to Japan's export control regulations for these items.

Beyond exports, the Korea-Japan summit also covered economic security, advanced science, as well as finance and foreign exchange. President Yoon said, "We agreed to promptly restore consultative bodies that discuss joint interests between the two countries, including strategic dialogues between diplomatic and economic authorities," and added, "I hope various consultative bodies, including the launch of Korea-Japan economic security dialogues at the National Security Council (NSC) level, will continue communication."

Military security cooperation was also emphasized. Regarding the resumption of GSOMIA, President Yoon explained at the press conference, "If the announced solution to the forced labor issue normalizes and develops bilateral relations, it will greatly help both countries respond to security crises."

Prime Minister Kishida particularly mentioned North Korea's intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch that day and confirmed the importance of trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as well as bilateral Korea-Japan cooperation in responding to North Korea. He emphasized, "We agreed on the importance of early resumption of long-suspended Korea-Japan security dialogues and vice-ministerial strategic dialogues, as well as the early reactivation of the high-level Korea-China-Japan process."

A Presidential Office official told reporters, "This means withdrawing the notification to terminate GSOMIA normalization," adding, "In this serious situation, sharing security information is extremely important," and "Procedural and formal obstacles were cleanly removed to ensure effective operation."

Regarding North Korea's missile launch that morning, President Yoon evaluated it as a "violation of UN Security Council resolutions," and Prime Minister Kishida shared the view that North Korea's nuclear and missile development threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the world. He introduced, "We agreed that trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as well as bilateral cooperation between Korea and Japan, is very important to respond to the increasingly sophisticated North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and we will actively cooperate going forward."

Unified Voice on Resuming Shuttle Diplomacy Between Leaders for Future Generations

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Regarding cooperation across various fields for future generations and the resumption of shuttle diplomacy between the two leaders, President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida spoke with one voice.

President Yoon said, "Korea and Japan share universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and are the closest partners who pursue common interests and cooperation in security, economy, and global agendas," adding, "Going forward, the two leaders will actively communicate and cooperate through shuttle diplomacy, meeting frequently as needed without being bound by formalities."

Prime Minister Kishida said, "We agreed to resume shuttle diplomacy where the two leaders visit each other frequently without being bound by formalities to open a new chapter in bilateral relations," and added, "We also agreed to activate government-to-government communication across a wide range of fields in Korea-Japan relations." Although no specific plans were made, Kishida confirmed his intention to visit Korea.

President Yoon emphasized, "We will closely cooperate and unite with the international community in Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy for freedom, peace, and prosperity and Japan's Free and Open Indo-Pacific initiative," adding, "Furthermore, since the international order based on universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law has achieved world peace and prosperity, we agreed to work together to uphold it."