Talks with Prime Minister Kishida's Korean delegation “Immediate relationship improvement is urgently needed to resolve issues”

On the 26th, Prime Minister Kishida met with a delegation dispatched by South Korean President-elect Yun Seo-gyeol.

He acknowledged that there is an urgent need to improve Japan-South Korea relations in light of the situation in Ukraine and the North Korean issue, and emphasized the need to resolve issues such as the issue of "recruitment" during the Pacific War.

A delegation headed by South Korean Vice-Chairman Chung Jin-suk, who is visiting Japan, visited the Prime Minister's Office on the morning of the 26th and met with Prime Minister Kishida for about 25 minutes.

Among them, Prime Minister Kishida said, "In the current international situation where the international order based on rules is threatened, Japan-South Korea, Japan-US-Korea," with Russia's military invasion of Ukraine and North Korea's nuclear and missile activities in mind. There has never been a greater need for strategic cooperation between the three countries, and we have not waited for the improvement of Japan-Korea relations. "

In addition, Prime Minister Kishida said, "It is necessary to develop Japan-South Korea relations based on the foundation of friendship and cooperation between Japan and South Korea that has been built since the normalization of diplomatic relations in 1965. It is necessary to resolve the concerns between the two countries, including the above, "he emphasized that the issues such as the issue of" recruitment "during the Pacific War need to be resolved.

In response, the delegation said, "We attach great importance to Japan-South Korea relations and would like to cooperate together to improve the relations."

According to government officials, the delegation handed over the letter of President-elect Yun to Prime Minister Kishida.

Following Prime Minister Kishida, the group also met with Chief Cabinet Secretary Matsuno.