New Ambassador to Japan Kang Chang-il: "Moon expects meeting with Suga... Biden will not be biased toward Japan"

"Biden is well aware of historical issues including the Japanese comfort women issue"
Prime Minister Suga calls Ambassador Nam Kwan-pyo's refusal to meet upon departure "a discourtesy"
"President Moon has a very strong will to improve Korea-Japan relations"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Kang Chang-il, the newly appointed ambassador to Japan, expressed that President Moon Jae-in wishes to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, and that President-elect Joe Biden of the United States has a high understanding of the historical issues between Korea and Japan, so he is not expected to lean toward Japan as much as some fear.

On the 17th, Ambassador Kang said in a virtual press conference, "President Moon asked me to make efforts to normalize bilateral relations and strengthen the cooperation system," adding, "President Moon has a very strong will to improve relations between the two countries."

He also reiterated President Moon’s willingness to engage in dialogue based on principles. Ambassador Kang said, "He mentioned that (President Moon) is having sincere talks with Prime Minister Suga," and added, "He also said he would not hesitate to play any role necessary for the successful hosting of the Tokyo Olympics."

Regarding Prime Minister Suga’s refusal to meet outgoing Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo, Kang evaluated it as a 'discourtesy.' He contrasted this with President Moon’s meeting with Ambassador Koji Tomita, who is moving to the U.S. as ambassador, saying, "I think it was discourteous. It was a farewell greeting, so it should have been accepted. I don’t know if there were personal reasons. I don’t know why they couldn’t meet or why the greeting was not made."

On the current state of Korea-Japan relations, he diagnosed it as the worst situation since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1965. Ambassador Kang said, "There have been many crises due to historical conflicts in the past, but those were separate issues, and we overcame them well through cooperation in the economy and security. However, now the front has expanded from historical conflicts to economic and security fields," adding, "That is why it has become the worst situation."

Regarding solutions, he emphasized the need to gather expert opinions, put heads together, and seriously discuss to seek political solutions. Especially on the issue of the Japanese forced labor compensation ruling, he mentioned, "I have identified at least 12 solutions," and stated that the law is the law, but it must be resolved politically.

Ambassador Kang said, "The two countries have many tasks to do together through exchange and cooperation," listing "economic cooperation, security cooperation, strengthening the Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral cooperation system, joint response to COVID-19, successful hosting of the Tokyo Olympics, low birthrate and population decline, regional balanced development issues, and so many more."

He continued, "Regarding solutions, many experts have presented various opinions. I think there is a need for the will and wisdom to carry out such discussions well and devise solutions," adding, "A few days ago, there was a Korean court ruling on the Japanese comfort women issue, and in the response process, we must not repeat past mistakes."

Furthermore, regarding Korea-Japan relations after the inauguration of the Biden administration, he predicted that unlike the Trump administration, it would not lean toward Japan. Ambassador Kang said, "President-elect Biden is well aware of the comfort women issue," and "I do not think he will lean toward Japan."

He added, "The past Trump administration sided with Japan a lot, and in the case of GSOMIA, it was hastily accepted under strong U.S. will," and said, "The U.S. has established its East Asia strategy under trilateral cooperation, and since the U.S. values that, I understand it will make tremendous efforts toward reconciliation between Korea and Japan."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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