Japan Press Weekly

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2015 November 4 - 10 [POLITICS]

Yamashita on Japan-ROK summit meeting: Japan should act based on resolution of Japanese and S. Korean parliamentarians’ unions

Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on November 2 held talks with South Korean President Park Geun-hye in Seoul for the first time in three and a half years after holding a Japan-China-ROK trilateral summit meeting on the previous day.

Japanese Communist Party Secretariat Head Yamashita Yoshiki on the same day said to reporters that it is significant that both of the leaders expressed hope for improving the bilateral diplomatic relationship.

Yamashita said that in order to build a better relationship, it is necessary to face historical facts squarely, as the joint statement of the trilateral summit meeting on the previous day states. He stressed, “Japan should act based on remorse over its past war of aggression and colonial rule over other Asian countries.”

Regarding the so-called “comfort women” issue, the biggest pending problem between the two countries, PM Abe and President Park agreed to seek an early settlement of this issue. Yamashita pointed out that parliamentarians’ unions in the two countries at their joint general meetings in October last year and July this year adopted resolutions calling on the Japanese government to act in a manner that is in line with the Kono and Murayama statements and to implement measures to help the victimized women have their honor restored and their anguish eased. He stressed that this is what is needed to achieve an early settlement of the issue.

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Prime Minister Abe Shinzo on November 1 met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Seoul.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry in its announcement reported that in the meeting, Li noted that in regard to historical recognition, it is necessary to examine past events, learn the lessons of history, and address sensitive issues existing between Tokyo and Beijing. He also said that it is hoped that Japan will keep following the path of peaceful development and will “respect the concerns of Asian neighbors in the military and security fields.”

Abe in response said that Japan will maintain its exclusively defensive defense policy based on serious reflection on World War II.

Past related articles:
> Japan-S. Korea lawmakers reaffirm adherence to Kono/Murayama statements [July 11, 2015]
> Japan-ROK lawmakers call for actions abiding by Kono Statement [October 25-28, 2014]