Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Restore 'Hanil Shuttle Diplomacy', Activate High-Level Strategic Communication with Hanjung

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The government is pushing to resume shuttle diplomacy with Japan, which has been severed for over 10 years.

While strengthening the core economic security channels between South Korea and the United States, it also plans to initiate high-level strategic communication with China, including the upcoming South Korea-China foreign ministers' meeting next month.

On the afternoon of the 21st, Foreign Minister Park Jin reported these details and the strategy for advancing relations with key countries to President Yoon Seok-yeol at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul.

Foreign Minister Park Jin is departing for Japan on the 18th through the international terminal of Gimpo Airport. Minister Park is scheduled to hold the first Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi in Tokyo. /Photo by Moon Ho-nam munonam@

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs defined the diplomatic tasks with the four neighboring powers as "conducting East Asian diplomacy based on the values of liberal democracy and shared interests," and declared its intention to lead international solidarity on universal values such as freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.

Minister Park is also reported to have presented the strategy for promoting summit diplomacy in the second half of the year.

In particular, Minister Park is known to have provided a detailed explanation to President Yoon about the results of his first visit to Japan since taking office, which took place from the 18th to the 20th.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it aims to restore shuttle diplomacy between South Korea and Japan, focusing on a reasonable resolution of historical issues.

A senior foreign ministry official explained to reporters, "We have determined that restoring shuttle diplomacy at the summit level, which has been severed for over 10 years, is necessary for the genuine development of South Korea-Japan relations. To this end, we plan to accelerate high-level and working-level communications, and strive to reasonably and promptly resolve pending issues between the two countries and restore mutual trust."

Shuttle diplomacy, where the leaders of South Korea and Japan visit each other to communicate, was effectively suspended after the Kyoto summit in December 2011 between then-President Lee Myung-bak and Japanese Prime Minister Noda Yoshihiko.

The senior foreign ministry official said, "Summit-level diplomacy could be the stage that completes South Korea-Japan relations or could serve as a turning point in the middle, but it is impossible to predict in advance."

Some speculate that the government may use the August 15 Liberation Day period as an important opportunity to concretize solutions for compensation related to forced labor.

The official explained, "The government will seek to present its own solution based on collected opinions, and the timing is also under consideration. Since August 15 and August itself are important for South Korea-Japan relations, we are trying to make meaningful progress internally in seeking solutions."

Minister Park reaffirmed the policy to pursue relationship development with China based on universal values and norms, reporting plans to promote mutual development through high-level communication and expanded practical cooperation.

In particular, to mark the 30th anniversary of South Korea-China diplomatic relations (August 24), Minister Park Jin will visit China for the first time since taking office next month, and plans to regularize communication between foreign ministers.

A senior foreign ministry official said, "Even under difficult circumstances for face-to-face consultations due to COVID-19, the very fact that a foreign minister-level direct visit is being pursued reflects the will to continue diplomatic engagement at the high level between South Korea and China."

Additionally, it was reported that strategic dialogues between National Security Office Director Kim Sung-han and Yang Jiechi, member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party responsible for foreign affairs, as well as foreign vice minister strategic dialogues and 2+2 deputy minister-level talks between foreign and defense authorities, will be activated.

The activation of the South Korea-China vice minister-level channel is expected to be coordinated after Minister Park's visit to China. Regarding South Korea-U.S. relations, the two countries reported strategies to jointly design an "upgraded future" for the alliance in the year marking its 70th anniversary and to leap forward as a global comprehensive strategic alliance.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it will revitalize high-level strategic consultations covering military security, economic, and technological cooperation with the United States, with a particular emphasis on strengthening core economic security channels.

In addition to the economic security dialogue between the presidential office and the White House launched on the 7th of this month, the ministry plans to expand and strengthen strategic consultation channels such as the 2+2 economic security consultative body between foreign and industrial authorities.

Furthermore, it emphasized active participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) negotiations and in discussions on international issues and norms within multilateral platforms such as the G20 and APEC.

Notably, the government faces an imminent decision on whether to participate in the so-called "Chip 4 Alliance," a semiconductor supply chain cooperation initiative led by the United States involving South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.

Regarding this, a senior foreign ministry official said, "It will not be an easy decision," but added, "Since this is not an issue that can be delayed indefinitely, I understand that relevant ministries are seriously and candidly discussing it and following procedures to make a decision."

Accordingly, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to establish South Korea's independent Indo-Pacific strategy within this year. The ministry explained, "We will establish our own Indo-Pacific strategy based on values, norms, and mutual interests, managing existing regional strategies at the level of regional cooperation within a macro framework."

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