Prime Minister Kishida to visit South Korea for first time since taking office today to hold a summit meeting

Prime Minister Kishida will visit the Republic of Korea for the first time since taking office on June 7 and hold a summit meeting with President Yoon Sung-yeol. In order to accelerate the trend toward improvement in Japan-ROK relations, I would like to confirm that we will steadily advance "shuttle diplomacy" between the leaders and continue close communication.

Prime Minister Kishida will visit Seoul, Republic of Korea for the first time since taking office, for two days from July 7.

This visit follows the agreement to resume shuttle diplomacy at the Japan-ROK summit meeting held in Japan in March this year, and this is the first time in 2 years that a Japan Prime Minister has visited the ROK for a bilateral summit meeting.

Prime Minister Kishida is scheduled to arrive at the site around noon on June 3, visit the National Cemetery to lay flowers, and then hold a summit meeting with President Yoon in the afternoon.

At the meeting, based on the fact that "shuttle diplomacy" has been steadily progressing without a delay since the previous agreement, I would like to confirm that we will continue close communication in order to accelerate the trend of improvement in Japan-ROK relations.

In addition to confirming the strengthening of security cooperation in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile issues, views are expected to be exchanged on economic security cooperation in the field of semiconductors and other areas, as well as export controls between Japan and the ROK.

In addition, it is expected that information will be shared on the implementation status of the solution presented by the ROK side regarding the issue of "requisition" during the Pacific War.

In addition, we will invite President Yoon to the G2 Hiroshima Summit this month, and we will make arrangements in advance based on the planned trilateral summit meeting between Japan, the United States, and the ROK.

The two leaders are scheduled to hold a joint press conference after the meeting to announce the results and a dinner in the evening.

Various issues and concerns still exist

There are still various issues and concerns between Japan and the Republic of Korea, and this will be the key to whether the relationship will improve in the future.

In the case of "requisition" during the Pacific War, based on the solution announced by the South Korean government in March, last month a foundation affiliated with the South Korean government paid some plaintiffs on behalf of Japan companies that had been ordered to compensate by the court.

However, some plaintiffs have indicated that they intend to refuse to accept payments from the foundation, and the Japan government is watching closely to ensure that the solution is steadily implemented.

Regarding the comfort women issue, in 2015, the then Abe administration and the Park Geun-hye administration agreed that the Japan government would contribute 10 billion yen to a foundation established by the South Korean government to support former comfort women, and confirmed that it would be resolved "finally and irreversibly."

However, the Moon Jae-in administration, which followed the Park administration, criticized the agreement and unilaterally announced the dissolution of the foundation in November 2018, deepening the confrontation.

In December 11, a JMSDF aircraft was irradiated by fire control radar from a South Korean military vessel in Japan sea, and the Japan government protested that it was a dangerous act that could lead to unforeseen circumstances.

On the other hand, the ROK side has maintained its stance that it was not aimed at Self-Defense Forces aircraft, and the views of both sides remain parallel lines.

South Korea has reacted to the gold mine on Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture, which Japan is aiming to register as a World Cultural Heritage Site, saying it is a place where workers from the Korean Peninsula were forced to work.

South Korea has expressed concern about plans to dilute treated water accumulated at TEPCO's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to a substandard state and release it into the sea.

There is also a territorial dispute over Takeshima in Shimane Prefecture.

Japan proposed to the ROK side three times since 2018 to refer the matter to the International Court of Justice in order to resolve the matter by peaceful means, but all of them were rejected and have not been referred to the ROK.

G7 Hiroshima Summit Invitation: Aim to Build Relationships of Trust

G7 = Summits of the seven major countries and it is customary to invite leaders from countries other than the seven member countries to discuss responses to global issues at summits.

At the Hiroshima Summit, which will open on May 7, the Japan of the Presidency has invited the leaders of eight countries and representatives of seven international organizations, including Prime Minister Modi of India, Prime Minister Albanese Jee of Australia, and President Yoon Sung-nyeol of the Republic of Korea.

This will be President Yoon's second visit to Japan since taking office last year, following his visit in March, and the leaders of Japan and the ROK will meet with an unprecedented frequency, including Prime Minister Kishida's visit to the ROK.

Prime Minister Kishida is expected to aim to build a relationship of trust by closely communicating with the leaders toward improving Japan-ROK relations.

In addition, in light of North Korea's repeated ballistic missile launches, a trilateral summit meeting between Japan, the United States, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) is scheduled to be held on the sidelines of the Hiroshima Summit with President Biden of the United States.

"Part of the Resumption of 'Shuttle Diplomacy'"

This is the first visit by a Japan Prime Minister to the Republic of Korea in five years since then-Prime Minister Abe visited the Republic of Korea in 2018 to coincide with the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Olympics.

Apart from these international conferences and events, Japan and the Republic of Korea conducted "shuttle diplomacy" from July 5 to December 2004, in which the leaders visited each other.

However, relations deteriorated in 7 when then-South Korean President Lee Myung-bak landed on Takeshima, and relations were cut off for more than 2011 years.

The turning point was the inauguration of President Yoon Seong-nyeol in May last year.

Under President Yoon, who expressed his desire to improve relations with Japan, the South Korean government announced a solution to the issue of "requisition" during the Pacific War, which had been a major pending issue between Japan and South Korea, and President Yoon's Japan visit was realized in March.

At the summit meeting at that time, Prime Minister Kishida and President Yoon agreed to improve and further develop Japan-ROK relations and confirmed the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy."

The Japan government regards Prime Minister Kishida's visit to the ROK as part of the resumption of "shuttle diplomacy."

Prime Minister Kishida is expected to aim to ensure the trend of improving relations by allowing President Yoon's visit to Japan to resume as soon as possible.