Japanese Foreign Ministry "Welcomes Increased Cooperation and Exchanges Between Korea and Japan in Summit Talks"

On the 7th, the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida welcomed the increasing exchanges and cooperation between the governments and private sectors of the two countries during the Korea-Japan summit held in Seoul.

In a press release issued after the summit, the Ministry stated that Prime Minister Kishida, who visited Korea that day, held a 1 hour and 45 minute meeting with President Yoon Suk-yeol and conveyed this message.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry, the two leaders positively evaluated the outcomes of the summit, noting that dialogue and cooperation between the two governments have progressed in various fields, including the resumption of finance ministers' meetings, the Korea-Japan Security Dialogue, and the Korea-Japan Economic Security Consultations, following the directions proposed at the Korea-Japan summit held in Tokyo last March. They also acknowledged progress in export control areas.

Furthermore, the two leaders welcomed the revitalization of economic exchanges between the private sectors of both countries, as well as active exchanges among private individuals and lawmakers.

In his opening remarks, Prime Minister Kishida expressed his pleasure at having welcomed President Yoon in Tokyo last March and at the early visit to Seoul to actively promote shuttle diplomacy.

The two leaders confirmed that the momentum for improving Korea-Japan relations is on track and agreed to strengthen trust and further develop bilateral relations through shuttle diplomacy, including at the upcoming G7 summit in Hiroshima later this month.

In this regard, when President Yoon visits Hiroshima, the site of the atomic bombing, during the G7 summit, the two leaders agreed to visit the Peace Memorial Park together and pay respects at the memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims.

Additionally, the two leaders shared the view that strengthening deterrence against North Korea through trilateral security cooperation among Korea, the US, and Japan is important.

Prime Minister Kishida announced that Japan has decided to accept a Korean expert inspection team regarding the planned release of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant into the ocean, expected this summer. He added that Japan will provide sincere explanations based on scientific evidence with high transparency while undergoing reviews by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

As Prime Minister of Japan, Kishida stated that he will not allow the release of contaminated water in a manner that adversely affects the health of Japanese and Korean people or the marine environment.

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