2023-05-08 06:22:02
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday called for officials to map out specific steps to speed up security and economic cooperation with Japan following their weekend summit in Seoul with the first Japanese Minister Fumio Kishida.
During their meeting on Sunday, Kishida expressed compassion for Koreans forced to work as slaves in the industry during Japan’s 1910-1945 colonial rule on the Korean Peninsula, and the leaders vowed to overcome their historical grievances and strengthen cooperation in the face of the North Korean threat and other challenges.
The summit, the second for the presidents in less than two months, drew mixed reactions in South Korea. Critics, including Yoon’s progressive opposition that controls a majority in the National Assembly, said Kishida’s remarks had not been significant enough and accused Yoon of allowing Japan to go unaccountable for its past aggressions in an effort to repair bilateral ties.
Others saw it as a sign that the two key US allies are finally moving forward following years of bickering to redouble their three-way alliance with Washington.
Yoon, Kishida and US President Joe Biden were expected to hold a trilateral meeting this month on the sidelines of the Group of Seven events in Hiroshima to discuss North Korea and geopolitical uncertainty created by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the assertive Chinese foreign policy. Although South Korea is not part of the G7, Yoon was invited as one of the eight partner countries.
In a meeting with his government on Monday, Yoon instructed his secretaries to propose bilateral technology, economic and security cooperation measures, as well as to facilitate cultural and youth exchanges between the two countries, which were discussed at their meeting. with Kishida. He did not go into details.
Speaking to the press before leaving Seoul, Kishida said he hoped to further strengthen his personal relationship with Yoon and “work together to usher in a new era.”
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