Kishida's 'Regret over Past History' Statement, Response Based on His Own Will

It has been reported that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's expression of "regret over past history" on the 7th during his visit to Korea was in response to his intention to reciprocate.

President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited Korea for a 2-day, 1-night schedule, are walking side by side after concluding a joint press conference at the Yongsan Presidential Office building in Seoul on the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

A senior official from the Presidential Office stated in a phone call with a media outlet on the 8th, "It seems that Prime Minister Kishida thought he had to respond in some way to President Yoon Suk-yeol's decision." Another official also emphasized in a call, "Neither the level of Prime Minister Kishida's remarks on past history nor whether to mention it at all was coordinated in advance," adding, "President Yoon is simply doing what he must do."

Earlier, ahead of the Korea-Japan summit, on the 3rd, National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong reportedly met with Takeo Akiba, Director of Japan's National Security Secretariat, and conveyed domestic public opinion hoping for a "responsive action" from Prime Minister Kishida without any filtering. This referred to the domestic calls for Japan to express apology and reflection on past history in response to President Yoon's solution to forced labor issues.

In this context, Prime Minister Kishida conveyed a message to President Yoon through Director Akiba, stating, "I highly appreciate President Yoon's courageous decision leading the improvement of Korea-Japan relations, and with a heart to repay even a little, I decided on this return visit."

It is said that no consultations between the two countries' aides regarding the past history issue took place afterward. Before visiting Korea, Prime Minister Kishida reportedly told Japanese diplomatic officials regarding the past history issue, "Leave that to me."

Presidential Office officials expressed that it was unexpected that Prime Minister Kishida brought up the past history issue first during the small-scale meeting with President Yoon without prior coordination.

Prime Minister Kishida stated that his position to inherit the historical awareness of past cabinets will remain firm, that he was moved by the Korean government's forced labor victim compensation solution based on third-party payment, and that his heart aches for the many people who suffered very painful and sad experiences under harsh conditions at that time.

In response, President Yoon said, "Although Korea did not bring up or demand this, I appreciate you showing a sincere stance first," according to a senior official from the Presidential Office at a briefing the previous day.