Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Replaces Director for Korea in Asia-Pacific Division

Current Director to be Appointed Deputy Minister of the Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 2nd of Next Month

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs at Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who is in charge of Korean affairs, will be replaced.

According to NHK on the 24th, the Japanese government decided at the Cabinet meeting on the same day to appoint Shigeki Takizaki, Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs, as Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, effective from the 2nd of next month. Takehiro Funakoshi, Counselor of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Cabinet Secretariat, will succeed Director-General Takizaki.

The Cabinet Secretariat in Japan is an institution that directly assists and supports the Prime Minister, the head of the Cabinet, and oversees and directs all administrative agencies. Director-General Takizaki concurrently serves as Deputy Director of the National Security Secretariat, Acting Secretary-General of the Growth Strategy Council, and Acting Secretary-General for the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Takizaki, who joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1985, served as Minister at the Embassy in the United States and took charge of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau last September. He has visited Korea several times to discuss major issues between Korea and Japan, including the forced labor issue. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato stated, "Director-General Takizaki has held key positions such as Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs and is well-versed in diplomatic matters, making him suitable for the role of Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary. From the perspective of further advancing diplomatic policy, this replacement was made."

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