March 17, 2023

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on March 16 held talks at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo and agreed to resume the so-called “shuttle diplomacy” between the two countries which has been suspended for twelve years.

At a joint press conference after the talks, PM Kishida expressed support for the latest Korean government announcement about its plan to compensate Korean victims of wartime forced labor in Japan, and said that it will help restore sound ties between Japan and the Republic of Korea.

Meanwhile, explaining the government recognition on Japan’s past colonial rule, PM Kishida only said that the government confirmed the maintenance of successive Cabinet positions, including that in the 1998 Japan-ROK Partnership Declaration.

Later on the same day at a press conference in the Diet building, Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo in his comment on the summit meeting said that the need is for PM Kishida to provide his view on historical issues between the two countries in his own words based on the 1998 Declaration.

Shii stressed that Japan should take an approach rooted in sincere remorse and apology for its past colonization of the Korean Peninsula, which is the only way to open the path for the constructive settling of issues of concern between the two countries: the issue of Korean forced labor in Japan, the Japanese military’s “comfort women” issue, and the territorial dispute over Takeshima Island (called Dokdo in South Korea).

Furthermore, Shii said that using the Korean government’s plan is not an option for the Japanese government to put an end to the forced labor issue.

Shii pointed out that the essence of the wartime forced labor issue is to deal with this matter as a human rights violation connected with Japan’s colonial domination, and said that it is important that both countries continue making efforts based on the spirit of the 1998 Declaration so that victims’ honor and dignity will be restored.

In this regard, Shii noted that the governments and the top courts in Japan and South Korea recognized that even under the 1965 Japan-ROK claims agreement, individual victims still have the right to claim for damages. He said that it is necessary for the two governments to place importance on this recognition and hold dialogues in a calm manner until victims regain their honor and dignity.

Past related article:
> Issue of Korean forced labor in wartime Japan should be resolved based on bilateral partnership agreement [March 8, 2023]