Kishida "Will Continue Efforts to Develop Bilateral Relations After Retirement"
South Korea Receives 19 Passenger List Documents of Ukishimaho Ship
President Yoon Suk-yeol is shaking hands and taking a commemorative photo with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited South Korea for the Korea-Japan summit, at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 6th. [Image source=Yonhap News]
President Yoon Suk-yeol held a Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, who visited Korea on the 6th, from 3:35 PM to 5:15 PM for about 100 minutes to discuss future cooperation measures.
This summit was the 12th meeting between President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida, held as part of shuttle diplomacy between the two heads of state. The two leaders reviewed the progress of Korea-Japan relations over the past two years and discussed the future direction of bilateral relations.
Both leaders evaluated that the two countries are actively communicating at various levels by restarting suspended intergovernmental consultative bodies and launching new consultative bodies, expanding cooperation in various fields such as economic security and advanced technology.
They also welcomed the signing today of the "Memorandum of Cooperation on the Protection of Nationals in Third Countries" between the foreign ministries of the two countries, expressing hope that this will strengthen cooperation between the two countries in crisis situations in third countries.
60th Anniversary of Korea-Japan Normalization of Diplomatic Relations Next Year... Discovering Substantive Cooperation Achievements
In particular, ahead of the 60th anniversary of Korea-Japan normalization of diplomatic relations next year, the two sides agreed to accelerate efforts to discover substantive cooperation achievements centered on the Korea-Japan 60th Anniversary Preparation Task Force (TF). The two leaders agreed that, with the annual human exchange between the two countries expected to exceed 10 million people this year, the highest level ever, it is necessary to consider institutional measures that can enhance the convenience of the peoples of both countries, such as simplifying immigration procedures.
Furthermore, the two leaders shared the recognition that North Korea refuses dialogue and continues to threaten peace and stability in the region, including the Korean Peninsula, and agreed to closely communicate and firmly respond to North Korea's continued provocations and the close Russia-North Korea situation. President Yoon expressed gratitude for Japan's support of the "8.15 Unification Doctrine" and said he expects Japan's unwavering interest and support for Korea's unification efforts.
President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at the expanded South Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held on the 6th at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The two leaders also agreed to continue close communication on various regional and global issues at international forums such as the UN Security Council, and to cooperate for the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, chaired by Korea next year, and the 2025 Osaka-Kansai Expo.
They reaffirmed that the improvement of Korea-Japan relations has led to a virtuous cycle of development in the trilateral cooperation system among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, and the revitalization of the Korea-Japan-China process, and agreed to continue efforts to develop bilateral relations even after Prime Minister Kishida's retirement.
President Yoon requested, "Please play a role so that your successor can continue the momentum of Korea-Japan relations development," and Prime Minister Kishida responded, "I will gladly do so."
Yoon: "Improving Korea-Japan Relations Was a Challenging Process"
After the summit with Prime Minister Kishida, President Yoon held a dinner for about two hours at the Blue House main building. The dinner was attended by First Lady Kim Keon-hee, Prime Minister Kishida's wife Mrs. Yuko, and the Japanese delegation.
President Yoon said, "Improving Korea-Japan relations was by no means a smooth process," adding, "Unpredictable difficulties may arise in the future of Korea-Japan relations, but we must not waver. I hope Prime Minister Kishida will continue to lend his unwavering support for the development of Korea-Japan relations."
Prime Minister Kishida emphasized, "There is a Korean proverb that says, 'The ground hardens after the rain.' Although there have been heavy rains in Korea-Japan relations, the journey we have taken together, stepping on the rain-soaked path with President Yoon, was a new beginning for Korea-Japan relations. Korea and Japan are cooperating as partners who address various challenges of the international community based on trust and friendship between the leaders of the two countries."
President Yoon Suk-yeol shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the expanded Korea-Japan summit held on the 6th at the Yongsan Presidential Office in Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
Meanwhile, the Korean government received 19 documents containing the passenger list of the Ukishima-maru from the Japanese side the day before. This is the first case in 17 years since Japan provided documents related to forced labor military auxiliaries to the Korean government in 2007 that documents on forced labor victims have been provided.
The Ukishima-maru was a Japanese naval transport ship that carried Koreans residing in Japan who were trying to return home immediately after liberation in 1945 and was heading to Busan. It was scheduled to call at Maizuru Port in Kyoto but exploded in the lower part of the hull and sank.
Kim Tae-hyo, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office, said, "We will carefully analyze the list through relevant government departments and use it to assist victims and investigate the truth of the Ukishima-maru incident."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
