Is Improvement in Korea-Japan Relations Possible Through Strengthening the Korea-US-Japan Alliance?

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Diplomatic circles are focusing on whether the visit of Park Ji-won, Director of the National Intelligence Service, to Tokyo, Japan will lead to an improvement in Korea-Japan relations.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the afternoon of the 12th, Director Park met with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide and expressed his will to normalize Korea-Japan relations. During the meeting with Prime Minister Suga, Director Park conveyed his determination to resolve pending issues between Korea and Japan, stating that "Korea-Japan relations cannot continue as they are."

Director Park referred to the face-to-face Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting held recently on the sidelines of the G7 Foreign and Development Ministers' Meeting in London, UK, and said, "We need to hold a Korea-Japan summit soon." He also expressed his hope that "Japan will successfully overcome COVID-19 and that the Tokyo Olympics will be well conducted."

This visit to see Prime Minister Suga was the first in six months since November last year. At that time, Director Park conveyed President Moon Jae-in's will to normalize Korea-Japan relations to Prime Minister Suga and proposed announcing a new joint declaration outlining the future direction of Korea-Japan relations, similar to the 'Kim Dae-jung?Obuchi Declaration.'

Earlier, on the 11th, Director Park visited Japan and held a private meeting with Hiroaki Takizawa, Japan’s Cabinet Intelligence Director. On the morning of the 12th, he held a trilateral intelligence chiefs meeting with Hiroaki Takizawa and Avril Haines, Director of the U.S. National Intelligence (DNI). The three intelligence chiefs likely shared the Biden administration’s North Korea policy and discussed ways to strengthen Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, regarding President Moon’s meeting on the 14th with Avril Haines, Director of the U.S. National Intelligence (DNI), at the Blue House, analysis suggests that in the urgent situation requiring Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation for denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, the U.S., which had been strained, is strengthening its role in improving Korea-Japan relations. The visit of Director Haines is seen as laying the foundation for enhanced Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation.

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