Japanese Foreign Minister Motegi, "Korea-Japan Ministerial Meeting in San Francisco, USA"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi announced that he will hold a Japan-South Korea foreign ministers' meeting this week in San Francisco, USA.

Foreign Minister Motegi stated on his Twitter post, "I will visit San Francisco, USA, starting from the 13th," adding, "I plan to hold Japan-US foreign ministers' talks, Japan-South Korea, and Japan-US-South Korea foreign ministers' meetings to discuss regional situations including North Korea and the Middle East."

Earlier, Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha also departed for San Francisco, USA, on the 13th (Korean time) and will hold a South Korea-US foreign ministers' meeting on the 14th (local time). Following the South Korea-US foreign ministers' meeting, South Korea-US-Japan and South Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meetings are expected to take place.

At the South Korea-US-Japan and South Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meetings, issues such as export controls and the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) are expected to be on the discussion table. The South Korean government maintains the principle that it can consider extending GSOMIA only if Japan withdraws its export controls.

At a press conference held at the Blue House on the same day, President Moon Jae-in reiterated the existing principle. President Moon responded, "We painfully experienced during the comfort women agreement that no matter how much the South Korean and Japanese governments agree without the victims' consent, it does not help resolve the problem," adding, "If the Japanese government keeps in mind that the solution must be acceptable to the victims, I believe it will not be very difficult to find a solution between the two countries."

In particular, he said, "Apart from the forced labor court ruling, Japan's export controls, and the GSOMIA issue, the South Korea-Japan relationship is very healthy," adding, "There is not much time left for the forced execution process involving the sale of Japanese companies' domestic assets, so I hope that dialogue between South Korea and Japan will be promoted swiftly."

In response, Japan also plans to demand that the South Korean government take responsibility and present a solution regarding the forced labor court ruling issue.

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