Japan's Abe: "Korea, Honor the Claims Agreement... No Relations if Promises Are Broken" (Summary)

"My Resolve to Amend the Constitution During My Term Remains Unshaken"

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

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

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

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

The forced labor issue was completely resolved under the Korea-Japan Claims Agreement signed in 1965 during the Park Chung-hee administration, and Japan maintains its existing position that "Japanese companies have no responsibility to compensate 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 the 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 directly to resolve various issues."

Meanwhile, during the program, Prime Minister Abe reiterated his intention to realize constitutional revision during his term, which ends at the end of September next year. He said, "I have no wavering in my desire to achieve constitutional revision with my own hands." Abe argues that Japan’s current constitution, enacted after the Pacific War defeat, should be amended to explicitly include provisions for the Self-Defense Forces.

Regarding the possibility of an early general election through the dissolution of the House of Representatives, whose term lasts until October next year, he said he is currently not considering it at all. However, citing that since his second administration in 2012 he has twice dissolved the House of Representatives early to implement major policies such as free early childhood education, he added, "If I think the time to dissolve comes, I will not hesitate."

On the possibility of challenging for a fourth term as the Liberal Democratic Party president, with his term ending in September next year, Abe responded, "I am really not thinking about it," and said, "My responsibility is to properly fulfill the promise (constitutional revision) made during last year's House of Councillors election."

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