[2020 National Audit] Nam Gwan-pyo, Ambassador to Japan, "Forced Labor Issue, Japanese Government Shows Slightly Progressed Position"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Nam Gwan-pyo, the South Korean ambassador to Japan, stated that "the Japanese government is showing a slightly more progressive stance" regarding the Korea-Japan conflict over compensation for forced labor during the Japanese colonial period since the inauguration of Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide.

On the 21st, Ambassador Nam appeared at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's audit. In response to a question from Lee Nak-yeon of the Democratic Party about whether there has been a change in the atmosphere regarding the forced labor issue since Prime Minister Suga's inauguration, he said, "I feel a positive atmosphere is forming," and explained, "Prime Minister Suga differs from former Prime Minister Abe in some respects." He added, "Prime Minister Suga himself is taking a pragmatic approach," and "since this issue is also related to the lives of the people, a slightly more progressive stance is being shown."

He also revealed that dialogue with the Japanese side is ongoing. Ambassador Nam responded, "We are consulting with an open attitude on all possible measures to resolve the forced labor issue," and "dialogue with Japan continues."

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