[South Korea-Japan Summit] Presidential Office: "No Discussion on Dokdo or Comfort Women... Fukushima Issue Must Be Confirmed Safe"

Controversy Over Mention at Korea-Japan Summit Spreads, Efforts to Calm Renewed
Fukushima Issue: Risk if Scientific Safety Not Confirmed

The Presidential Office reiterated on the 19th that there was "no discussion" regarding the Dokdo issue or the comfort women agreement between the two sides during the Korea-Japan summit held on the occasion of President Yoon Seok-yeol's visit to Japan on the 16th. Regarding the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, the position is that safety must be scientifically confirmed.

A key official from the Presidential Office met with reporters at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and clarified in response to Japanese media reports that Prime Minister Kishida conveyed Japan's stance on the comfort women agreement and Dokdo sovereignty to President Yoon, stating, "We have clearly stated that the first two issues (comfort women, Dokdo) were never discussed."

After the Korea-Japan summit, as Japanese media reported that Prime Minister Kishida conveyed Japan's position on resolving the comfort women issue and Dokdo sovereignty, controversy spread. In response, the Presidential Office stated in a press release on the 17th, the day President Yoon returned, that "neither the comfort women issue nor the Dokdo issue was discussed at the Korea-Japan summit held on the 16th."

Kim Tae-hyo, the First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, said in an interview with YTN, "Not all conversations between the leaders at the summit can be disclosed," but added, "Prime Minister Kishida was the Foreign Minister at the time and one of the parties to the 2015 Korea-Japan comfort women agreement," and mentioned that "he read out a sincere reflection and apology, and exactly three years later, our country dissolved the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation," implying that the agreement remains valid.

Regarding Dokdo, Deputy Director Kim said, "It cannot be a hot issue. It is our land currently occupied by us," and responded, "To my recollection, no Japanese official has recently mentioned Dokdo to us."

Regarding reports that there was discussion about the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, he refrained from commenting, saying, "It is not appropriate to disclose what was discussed at the summit."

However, the official emphasized, "There is a government principle," adding, "There are scientific aspects and public sentiment aspects, but if it is not scientifically confirmed to be safe, there are dangerous factors, so how could we accept it?"