Secretary-General of the Japan-Korea Assembly: "Hope the Summit Leads to Improved Relations"

Ryota Takeda, Secretary General of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Ryota Takeda, Secretary General of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League, who visited Korea last month and met with President Yoon Suk-yeol, said, "I hope the (Korea-Japan) summit will lead to a full-fledged improvement in relations," adding, "It seems that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan also feels hopeful about the normalization of Korea-Japan relations."

In an interview with the Mainichi Shimbun on the 7th, Secretary General Takeda positively evaluated President Yoon's willingness to improve Korea-Japan relations and made these remarks. Secretary General Takeda met with President Yoon on the 11th of last month in Seoul, along with other executives of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League. He said of President Yoon, "I got the impression that he is extremely flexible and broad-minded," adding, "The meeting was originally scheduled for 20 minutes but was extended by 30 minutes, and he responded very candidly. I believe all members of the Japan-Korea Parliamentary League, including myself, felt that with this person, we could honestly exchange opinions and engage in dialogue to normalize Korea-Japan relations."

Secretary General Takeda said, "President Yoon recognizes the roles and importance of both Korea and Japan in Northeast Asia and said, 'We must continue frank dialogue to realize the normalization of bilateral relations,'" adding, "I was particularly impressed by the part where he stated, 'Historical issues and other Korea-Japan matters must never be used as domestic political tools (in Korea).'"

Secretary General Takeda also said, "It was a meaningful meeting where we could confirm a shared recognition that we need to return to the era of the 1998 'Korea-Japan Joint Declaration,' when Korea-Japan relations were at their best," adding, "If Korea conveys what it wants Japan to cooperate on, we are willing to respond flexibly. It is natural that Japan will also make efforts."

He emphasized, "To that end, I hope the 2015 comfort women agreement will be implemented promptly." He added that Prime Minister Kishida, who led the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement as Foreign Minister at the time, places importance on the implementation of the agreement.

Secretary General Takeda said, "From the Korean side, there was a request for Japan's support to enable environmental arrangements, including the resumption of the Haneda-Gimpo air route, as a priority to revitalize exchanges in all fields such as politics, economy, and culture," adding, "We also intend to do our utmost on this side."

He said, "Individual issues such as Japan's export regulations on Korea, which are important to the Korean side, can be discussed while continuing exchanges and showing a common direction toward improving relations."

President Yoon and Prime Minister Kishida are considering attending the NATO summit to be held in Spain on the 29th and 30th. If the two leaders attend together, attention will focus on whether it will lead to a Korea-Japan summit. A face-to-face meeting between the Korea and Japan heads of state has not been held for two and a half years.

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