The governments of Japan and South Korea want to get closer again. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will travel to South Korea on Sunday for a two-day visit. There he wants to talk to President Yoon Suk-yeol about the “rapidly changing international situation”.
“Japan and South Korea are important neighbors that must work together to address the various challenges facing global and regional economies and the international community,” said Japan’s Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki. For example, the two countries could strengthen private and government partnerships in high-tech industries such as semiconductors and batteries. At the Munich Security Conference in February, the governments of Japan and South Korea agreed to increase information exchange at all diplomatic levels.
The background is North Korea’s rearmament and China’s growing influence in the region. South Korean President Yoon traveled to Tokyo in March. At that time, he agreed with Kushida to resume mutual visits and conduct bilateral security dialogue. A trade dispute was also settled.
Dispute over forced labor compensation
The two countries have been at odds for decades over compensation for South Koreans forced into forced labor or prostitution during the Japanese occupation (1910-1945). This was followed by an export dispute. Among other things, the Japanese government restricted the supply of technical goods to South Korean companies. In return, Japan was stripped of its right to expedited export procedures.
The government in Seoul has now announced that it will compensate former forced laborers or surviving relatives through a public fund. Kushida’s visit to South Korea is the first visit by a Japanese leader to the neighboring country in five years. He spoke of a “good chance” to further boost diplomatic relations.
Source: Krone
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