The Japanese government announced that the meeting between the two leaders was consistent with the development of future-oriented bilateral relations.
“Based on Japan’s steady situation, we will communicate with Korea,” he said.
Let’s see how Japan sees this meeting.
Tokyo link. Reporter Lee Kyung-ah!
First, let’s look at the official announcement of the Japanese government on this meeting.
How did you say it?
[기자]
After the meeting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan distributed a press release that had passed at 4 am today.
The Japanese government announced that under the current strategic environment, Korea and Japan are important neighbors to cooperate with each other, and that it is important to promote cooperation between Korea and Japan.
Let’s listen to what Foreign Minister Hayashi said in New York after the leaders of Korea and Japan met.
[하야시 요시마사 / 일본 외무성 장관 : 두 정상은 현안을 해결해 양국 관계를 건전한 관계로 되돌릴 필요성을 공유했습니다. 1965년 국교정상화 이후 쌓아온 우호협력관계의 기반을 바탕으로 양국 관계를 미래지향적으로 발전시켜 나가자는 데 일치했습니다.]
The phrase ‘future-oriented’ is notable because it has not appeared in official Japanese government publications in recent years when Korea-Japan relations have deteriorated.
At the same time, however, he emphasized the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965 and Japan’s stable position.
This is interpreted as a re-evidence of the current situation that Japan is not liable for compensation for the issue of forced removal, which is a key issue.
Japan claims that this issue was already resolved with the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Agreement.
For this reason, there is talk of a way to compensate victims through a fund in which Korean and Japanese companies participate voluntarily.
However, there is no answer to the issue of an apology from Japanese companies that the victims are demanding.
[앵커]
We called the format of the meeting an ‘informal meeting’ and Japan described it as ‘talking’.
There was also an analysis that the temperature difference between the two countries was revealed again How is it?
[기자]
Minister Matsuno said at a regular press conference this morning that “there is no strict definition” of the difference between ‘speaking’ and ‘talking’.
He said, “I know that chatting or standing and talking is called an informal meeting in Korea.”
This means that the meanings are not very different from each other.
Regarding this meeting, Minister Matsuno explained, “We made a comprehensive judgment based on the local circumstances and schedule.”
He said he would refrain from commenting on the details of the conversations the two leaders had.
Japan’s Jiji news agency said President Yun “appears to have clarified the position of the Korean government’s review of a solution” to the issue of compensation for forced labor.
A Japanese government official explained the situation to TBS at the time, saying, “President Yoon said a lot.”
[앵커]
Were there many ups and downs before the meeting was done?
The fact of the meeting was officially announced a few minutes ago, but for what reason?
[기자]
Japan has been pressuring South Korea to meet with the South Korean government only if the Korean government finds a solution to the issue of forced labor exchange.
Because of this, the Japanese government has decided that the official meeting is not yet possible.
The Mainichi Shimbun reported on the pending issues in the meeting between the two leaders, “There was no concrete progress, but we decided to continue communicating.”
Yomiuri Shimbun reported, “We responded positively to the Korean government’s efforts to improve relations with Japan in the form of informal meetings.”
Prime Minister Kishida has recently faced a crisis where his Cabinet approval rating has dropped to the 20% level due to public opinion against Abe.
Improving Korea-Japan relations is not a priority, but the domestic political and economic situation.
Not only this, there are also a number of conservative right-wing legislators in the ruling LDP who demand a tough stance on Korea.
At the end of this month, the Japanese government plans to resubmit a World Heritage site recommendation for the Sado Mine, a mobilization enforcement site.
Sensitive issues remain, such as the issue of attending the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Forces frigate ceremony in November and the release of contaminated water from Fukushima.
The two leaders are expected to meet again at the G20 to be held in Indonesia in November, and there is also hope that the government will draw up a government plan for the issue before then.
Although this meeting opened the door for dialogue, both governments are expected to continue to respond cautiously while monitoring trends in public opinion.
So far, this is YTN’s Kyeong-ah Lee in Tokyo.
YTN Kyungah Lee (kalee@ytn.co.kr)
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