[South Korea-Japan Summit] Yoon: "South Korea and Japan to Fully Normalize GSOMIA... Launch of Economic Security Consultative Body" (Update)

Joint Press Conference Held After Summit
Yoon: "Enhancing Cooperation in Various Fields"
Possibility of Exercising Reparation Claims "Not on the Table"

After concluding the Korea-Japan summit with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 16th, "We agreed that both countries' citizens have suffered direct and indirect damages due to the frozen bilateral relations, and we share the intention to promptly restore and develop Korea-Japan relations."

At a joint press conference held after the Korea-Japan summit at the Prime Minister's official residence in Tokyo that afternoon, President Yoon said, "Korea and Japan share universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law, and are the closest partners who pursue common interests in security, economy, and global agendas and must cooperate."

President Yoon expressed his pleasure in holding the Korea-Japan summit during his bilateral visit to Japan for the first time in 12 years. He said, "Considering the Korea-Japan relations at the time of my inauguration, it is especially meaningful to explain the results of the summit with Prime Minister Kishida," and added, "Following the national consensus to prepare the future of both countries together, we agreed to accelerate cooperation in various fields such as security, economy, and human exchange."

During the Korea-Japan summit, the two leaders discussed not only economic security and advanced science but also finance and foreign exchange. President Yoon stated, "We agreed to promptly restore consultative bodies that discuss our common interests, including strategic dialogues between diplomatic and economic authorities," and urged, "I hope various consultative bodies, including the launch of Korea-Japan economic security dialogues at the National Security Council (NSC) level, will continue communication."

President Yoon evaluated that the solution to the forced labor issue announced by our government on the 6th has laid the foundation for both countries to now actively discuss a future-oriented development direction.

Regarding achievements, he said, "Today, Japan lifted export restrictions on three items, and Korea withdrew its World Trade Organization (WTO) complaint. We also agreed to continue close dialogue for the prompt restoration of the so-called whitelist measures," and added, "We also share the view that both governments should actively seek ways to support exchanges that deepen mutual understanding among future generations."

Regarding the agreement between the Federation of Korean Industries and Japan's Keidanren to establish a Korea-Japan Future Partnership Fund, he said, "I ask that preparations and support be made so that this fund establishment can lead to meaningful exchanges and cooperation for future-oriented collaboration between the two countries."

On the morning of the same day, concerning North Korea's missile launch, he pointed out that it was a "violation of the UN Security Council resolution." President Yoon said, "During the recent summit, I exchanged in-depth opinions with Prime Minister Kishida. We both recognize that North Korea's nuclear and missile development threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula, Northeast Asia, and the world," and introduced, "We also agreed that trilateral cooperation among Korea, the U.S., and Japan, as well as bilateral cooperation between Korea and Japan, is very important to respond to the increasingly sophisticated North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and we will actively cooperate going forward."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

They also agreed to join forces for international peace and prosperity. President Yoon emphasized, "In Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy for freedom, peace, and prosperity and Japan's promotion of a free and open Indo-Pacific, we will closely cooperate and unite with the international community," and added, "Furthermore, since the international order based on universal values of freedom, human rights, and the rule of law has achieved world peace and prosperity, we agreed to work together to uphold it."

They reaffirmed the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration, which reflects the Japanese government's reflection on the damages Korea suffered during the Japanese colonial period. President Yoon said, "This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Joint Declaration announced in 1998, which aimed to face the past and develop relations based on mutual understanding and trust," and stressed, "This summit became the first step to progressively inherit the spirit of the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Joint Declaration, overcome the unfortunate history between the two countries, and open a new era of Korea-Japan cooperation."

Regarding the resumption of shuttle diplomacy between the two leaders, he said, "Going forward, the two leaders will actively communicate and cooperate through shuttle diplomacy, meeting frequently as needed without being bound by formalities."

In response to a Korean reporter's question about what Korea gains from this summit, President Yoon said, "If the bilateral relations normalize and develop through this (forced labor) solution announcement, it will greatly help both countries respond to security crises," and added, "I also declared the complete normalization of our GSOMIA (General Security of Military Information Agreement) during the recent Korea-Japan summit." He emphasized, "We must share information on North Korea's nuclear and missile launches and trajectories and respond together."

Japan imposed export controls on Korea in 2019 as a de facto retaliation against Korea's forced labor rulings, and the Moon Jae-in administration notified Japan of the termination of GSOMIA in response but later suspended its effect. As a result, the legal status of the agreement remains unstable.

In response to a Japanese reporter's question about the possibility of exercising subrogation rights by forced labor victims, President Yoon asserted, "If subrogation rights are exercised, it would revert all issues to their original state," and stated firmly, "Our government does not consider the exercise of subrogation rights in relation to the intent of the announced solution to the ruling."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

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