"Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, Coordinates Visit to Suga, Japanese Prime Minister, on the 10th (Comprehensive)"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Eun-byeol] Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, who is visiting Japan, is reportedly coordinating a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide.

According to local private broadcaster TBS on the 9th, Director Park is finalizing arrangements to pay a visit to Prime Minister Suga at the Prime Minister's Official Residence on the 10th. If the meeting takes place, attention will focus on whether they exchange views on major issues in Korea-Japan relations, such as the forced labor victims during the Japanese colonial period.

Director Park is the first senior official from the South Korean government to visit Japan since the Suga administration took office. Therefore, there are expectations that this occasion will serve as a catalyst for more active dialogue between the two countries.

On the previous day, he met with Nikai Toshihiro, Secretary-General of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the party's second-in-command. It is well known that Director Park and Secretary-General Nikai have maintained a brotherly relationship for over 20 years. When Park was Minister of Culture and Tourism in 2000, he closely cooperated with Nikai, who was then Minister of Transport, discussing Korea-Japan tourism exchanges and increasing flights. It is also known that when Park was imprisoned over the North Korean remittance case, Secretary-General Nikai visited him and sent him undershirts, indicating their close relationship.

According to TBS, during their meeting on the 8th, they exchanged opinions on current issues in Korea-Japan relations such as forced labor and regional challenges including the North Korean situation.

On the 9th, Director Park held separate meetings with Kitamura Shigeru, Director of Japan's National Security Secretariat, and Takizawa Hiroaki, Cabinet Intelligence Investigator.

Earlier, NHK also reported on Director Park's visit to Japan, stating that "this is the first time a senior South Korean official has visited Japan." They added, "There is a possibility of exchanging views on contentious issues in Korea-Japan relations, such as compensation for forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period."

Following Director Park's visit, 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 delegation plans to meet with their Japanese counterparts from the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League.

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