Japan's Kishida: "Will Demand South Korea to Propose a Solution to the Forced Labor Issue"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suhwan] Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida reaffirmed his stance, stating that he plans to demand that South Korea come up with a solution regarding the forced labor issue.

On the 13th, during the House of Councillors plenary session, in response to a question from Kohei Otsuka of the Democratic Party for the People about Japan-South Korea relations, Prime Minister Kishida said, "The Japan-South Korea relationship is in a very serious situation, but we cannot leave it as it is," adding, "Keeping promises between countries is the foundation of international relations."

He stated, "To restore Japan-South Korea relations to a healthy state, we will strongly demand that the South Korean side promptly present a 'solution acceptable to Japan' regarding the issue of former Korean Peninsula laborers (victims of forced labor)."

This is interpreted as a reaffirmation of the Japanese government's existing position that the issue of forced mobilization of Koreans was fully resolved by the 1965 Japan-South Korea Claims Agreement. Based on this, Japan has opposed the South Korean Supreme Court's ruling recognizing corporate compensation liability, arguing it violates international law.

Prime Minister Kishida added that since taking office, he has promptly held phone talks with leaders of countries including the United States, China, and Russia, and conveyed his views on the issue of Japanese abductees by North Korea.

He emphasized, "While closely cooperating with related countries, including the Biden administration in the United States, I will not miss any opportunity to meet directly with Chairman Kim Jong-un of North Korea and will devote all my efforts to this."

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