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The diplomatic authorities of Korea and Japan held a foreign affairs director-level meeting in Seoul today (30th) to discuss the issue of compensation for forced labor during the Japanese occupation.

It is said that there has been a heated debate over Japan's sincere response.



This is Reporter Jeong Yoon-sik.



[ Reporter



] The director of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who will discuss the solution to forced labor, visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Seoul.



This is for the director-general-level consultation, which was held again two weeks after the Tokyo consultation on the 16th.



[Funakoshi Takehiro/Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan: (What kind of discussion are you going to discuss today? Are you going to talk about (Japan's) sincere response?) …

…

.]



The two sides met for more than three hours, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said immediately after the consultation with the Japanese side that "there is still a difference in perception."



The issue was to what extent Japan would respond in good faith to the third-party reimbursement method through the Foundation for Supporting Victims of Forced Mobilization by Japan, a solution formulated by the Korean government.



A plan to announce the succession of the past Prime Minister's statement expressing heartfelt remorse and apology is being discussed, but the issue was who would announce it, either the Prime Minister or the Chief Cabinet Secretary.



In addition, it is said that there has been heated debate between the two sides over the issue of participating in compensation by Japanese war criminal companies.



In the Japanese media, if the foundation gives up its right to indemnity against the defendant company, the Japanese company is talking about a measure that responds to the level of voluntary donation.



Immediately after the consultations, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a short position that it would continue communication to return and develop Korea-Japan relations to a healthy one.



Victims' organizations related to forced mobilization defined this consultation as 'humiliation diplomacy'.



[Stop incompetent diplomacy that only causes diplomatic disasters!

Stop it, stop it!]



It is known that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will proceed with the process of meeting the victims and their immediate bereaved families in person to explain the government plan and seek understanding.



(Video coverage: Park Young-il, video editing: Cho Moo-hwan)