May 9, 2023

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on May 8 said, "The re-establishment of 'shuttle diplomacy' itself is a good thing." He said this when asked by reporters for a comment on the previous day's summit meeting held between Japan's Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and ROK President Yoon Suk-yeol in Seoul.

However, he added that he cannot overlook the moves, which the two leaders have agreed on in their talks, to strengthen Japan-U.S.-ROK military deterrence capabilities and their ability to cope with North Korea's nuclear threats. He said, "These moves will only help accelerate an arms race in the region."

Shii affirmed that only through dialogue can North Korean issues be resolved, saying, "Diplomatic efforts to find ways to bring the DPRK to the negotiation table are necessary."

Regarding the move to enhance nuclear deterrence, he pointed out that it totally conflicts with a slogan of the upcoming G7 Hiroshima Summit to realize the ideal of "a world without nuclear weapons".

Noting that PM Kishida in the bilateral summit meeting said "his heart aches" over Korean victims of forced labor in wartime Japan, Shii said, "Of course, this won't directly lead to a breakthrough in Japan-Korea issues, but this is at least a positive change."

Shii said that the essence of the forced labor issue lies in human rights abuses associated with Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula, stressing the need for both Japan and South Korea to continue making efforts based on the spirit of the Tokyo-Seoul Partnership Declaration so that the honor and dignity of the victims can be restored.

Past related article:
> Shii comments on Japan-S. Korea summit meeting [March 17, 2023]