Abe: "Cash Conversion of Japanese Companies' Assets Clearly Violates Claims Agreement"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eun-byeol] Regarding the possibility that the assets of Japanese companies responsible for compensating Korean forced labor victims may soon be liquidated in South Korea, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe claimed it is "an act that clearly violates the Claims Agreement."

On the morning of the 12th, Prime Minister Abe stated on NHK's program 'Sunday Debate,' "We have built Korea-Japan relations based on the promise not to engage in such acts. I strongly want to demand that the basic treaty and the Claims Agreement, which are the foundation of Korea-Japan relations, be firmly prioritized and upheld."

He continued, "It is necessary to definitely change the situation where the Claims Agreement is not being honored and where promises between countries are not kept. When promises are not kept in relations between countries, relations cannot be maintained, so I strongly want to demand that such an opportunity be firmly created. I also mentioned this at the previous Korea-Japan summit," he added.

The forced labor issue was completely resolved according to the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement signed in 1965 during the Park Chung-hee administration, and Japan maintains its existing position that "Japanese companies are not responsible for compensating Korean forced labor victims."

He also revealed his policy on Korea-Japan relations, saying, "Because there are problems, I think we need to engage in more dialogue, and I want to improve relations somehow."

Regarding North Korea-Japan relations, he said, "There is no change in the policy according to the Pyongyang Declaration (September 2002), which aims to comprehensively resolve issues such as abductions, nuclear weapons, and missiles, and to normalize North Korea-Japan relations by settling unfortunate past issues." He also emphasized Japan's stance on the abduction issue by North Korea, stating, "Japan must respond independently," and "I am determined to face Chairman Kim Jong-un unconditionally to resolve various issues."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.