First Korea-US-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting in 4 Years... Focus on 'Improving Korea-Japan Relations'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Attention is focused on whether a breakthrough can be found to improve the deadlocked Korea-Japan relations, triggered by the Korea-U.S.-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting held for the first time in four years. Despite the cancellation of President Moon Jae-in's visit to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, the Blue House plans to continue Korea-Japan working-level negotiations based on existing diplomatic achievements.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 21st, Choi Jong-geon, First Vice Foreign Minister, held a deputy-level meeting this morning at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, Japan, with Wendy Sherman, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State, and Takeo Mori, Japanese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Korea-U.S.-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting, established in 2015, had not been held since October 2017 and was resumed after four years. At this meeting, trilateral cooperation plans on regional security issues such as North Korea, climate change, and international health are expected to be discussed.

Also, since one of the main reasons for establishing the Korea-U.S.-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' Meeting was to improve Korea-Japan relations, attention is focused on whether the U.S. will actively mediate to resolve the deteriorated Korea-Japan relations. Ned Price, spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, said on the 20th (local time) in response to reporters' questions about the cancellation of the Japan visit, "I will not comment on visits or meetings between the two countries," but added, "The broader perspective we have consistently taken is that a strong and effective trilateral relationship among the U.S., South Korea, and Japan is important."

However, considering the content of the Korea-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' meeting held the previous day, it seems difficult to improve Korea-Japan relations in the near future. Vice Foreign Minister Choi met Vice Minister Mori on the afternoon of the 20th for their first face-to-face meeting, but before the meeting, he showed a stern expression and skipped the elbow greeting during the commemorative photo. This was in stark contrast to the warm atmosphere of the U.S.-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' meeting held on the same day.

At the Korea-Japan Deputy Foreign Ministers' meeting, Vice Minister Mori demanded that Korea resolve the rulings by Korean courts on forced labor and comfort women compensation, stating that Japan cannot accept them, while Vice Minister Choi asked Japan to approach the sensitive issues with an open attitude based on a correct understanding of history, but they failed to narrow their differences. The Korean government demanded disciplinary action against Hirohisa Soma, Minister-Counselor of the Japanese Embassy in Korea, who caused controversy with his offensive remarks such as calling President Moon's actions "self-defense acts," but Japan has only expressed regret and has not taken official disciplinary measures, which is also a negative factor for improving relations.

Meanwhile, the Blue House maintained its existing intention to continue efforts to improve relations. Park Soo-hyun, Senior Secretary for Communication at the Blue House, said on the radio that day, "We hope that dialogue will continue again based on the friendly and progressive achievements the two countries have shared so far," and added, "The President expressed regret to the extent of saying 'very unfortunate' after receiving the final report on the cancellation of the visit."

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