Shii holds talks with ROK National Assembly Speaker

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Shii holds talks with ROK National Assembly Speaker

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on September 6 met with Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea Lim Chae-Jung at his office in the parliament building in Seoul.

Speaker Lim said to Shii, "I hope that your stay is worthwhile, and that you will accomplish the objectives of your first visit to ROK." Shii said, "We will meet with representatives of all political parties in the ROK. I hope this will open a path for exchanges between the JCP and the entire ROK political world."

The Speaker said, "You have come to the ROK in order to participate in the International Conference of Asian Political Parties. I think this in itself proves the improvement of various relations between political parties as well as a political development in Asia."

Shii spoke about his visit to the Seodaemun Prison History Hall and the offering of flowers to the memorial tombstone on September 5 and 6. Lim said, "This act fills me with emotion. I'd like to express my gratitude on behalf of the people of the ROK. We feel comfort and consolation in your action."

Responding to the Speaker's question about the purpose of his visit to Seodaemun, Shii said, "I had two things on my mind: remorse over Japan's colonial rule of Korea, and the need to pay tribute to and express solidarity with the Korean patriots with whom the JCP fought together, because we also made sacrifices under Japanese imperialism and militarism."

Speaker Lim stated, "If the government of Japan would take such a stance, it would help to relieve tensions and promote peace in East Asia."

Shii and Lim both agreed on the importance of settling historical issues in establishing a community of nations for peace in East Asia as well as the importance of resolving North Korean issues.

Shii emphasized the need to solve comprehensively the issues involving North Korea, namely the abductions of Japanese nationals, development of nuclear weapons, and the settling of past issues, based on the "Japan-DPRK Pyongyang Declaration."

Speaker Lim asked Shii about the post-capitalist society that the JCP seeks, and Shii responded to this inquiry.

The two ended the talks by promising to continue exchanges whenever possible.
- Akahata, September 7, 2006