"Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, Visits Japan... First High-Level Visit Since Suga Cabinet Took Office"

On the 8th, Meeting with Close Associate Nikai Kansho... Likely to Meet Japanese Government Officials

Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] NHK reported on the 9th that Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, appears to be the first high-ranking official from the South Korean government to visit Japan since Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide took office.

NHK cited sources from Korea-Japan relations, stating that Director Park has been on a visit to Japan since the previous day. It was reported that on the previous day, Park held talks with Nikai Toshihiro, Secretary-General of the Liberal Democratic Party, with whom he has a close relationship. Park is also expected to meet with other senior government officials.

NHK noted that this is the first visit by a high-ranking South Korean official to Japan since the Suga Cabinet came to power, adding, "There is a possibility that they will exchange views on contentious issues in Korea-Japan relations, such as compensation for forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period."

During his tenure as Minister of Culture and Tourism in 2000, Park closely cooperated with Nikai, who was then Minister of Transport, discussing Korea-Japan tourism exchanges and increasing flights. It is known that when Park was imprisoned over the North Korea remittance case, Nikai visited him and even sent him undergarments, indicating a close relationship.

Following Park's visit to Japan, from the 12th to the 14th of this month, South Korean members of the Korea-Japan Parliamentary League will also visit Japan to seek improvements in Korea-Japan relations. The visiting delegation is scheduled to meet with their Japanese counterparts from the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League.

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