[앵커]
When the Korean government officially announced the solution to forced labor, the Japanese government said that the Korean side’s action was “assessed as returning Korea-Japan relations to a healthy one.”
The forced labor companies, such as Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have repeatedly maintained that the issue of compensation for forced labor was already resolved by the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement.
Correspondent in Tokyo. Reporter Kim Se-ho!
[기자]
yes. It is Tokyo.
[앵커]
Japan’s response to the Korean government’s ‘third party reimbursement proposal’ was evaluated as a positive measure for Korea-Japan relations, right?
[기자]
Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa held an ad-hoc press conference after attending the National Assembly at around 12:45 pm and revealed the Japanese side’s position.
At a press conference, Foreign Minister Hayashi stressed that he had been in close consultations with South Korea since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol government to resolve the issue of forced labor.
At the same time, the Japanese government said that the resolution of forced labor announced by Korea was evaluated as an attempt to restore the relationship between Korea and Japan, which had become very severe due to the South Korean Supreme Court ruling in 2018, as a sound relationship.
He went on to say that Korea is an important neighboring country that needs to cooperate in responding to various challenges of the international community.
The Japanese government also emphasized that it confirms that the position of the previous cabinets on historical awareness, including the Korea-Japan Joint Declaration announced in October 1998, has been inherited as a whole.
In addition, he added that he expected that exchanges in fields such as politics and economy would further expand with the announcement from the Korean side as an opportunity.
However, there is no specific mention of what kind of ‘sincere response’ the government is requesting in the future, so it seems that additional reactions will have to be watched.
[앵커]
The Japanese business community is also preparing a tangible plan tailored to our government, right?
[기자]
yes. Japan’s Keidanren and other Japanese business circles are also looking forward to improving Korea-Japan relations.
It is known that Japan’s Keidanren tentatively confirmed a plan to jointly create and operate a tentatively named ‘Future Youth Fund’ with the Federation of Korean Industries.
However, Japanese economic organizations are making it clear that these movements are separate from compensation for victims in line with the Japanese government’s stance.
Currently, the Japanese government is in the position that even if Korea provides compensation through the foundation, it is unacceptable to claim the right to indemnity from a Japanese company.
However, it is said that even within the Japanese government, there is an opinion that Japanese companies cannot oppose voluntary donations.
For this reason, attention is focused on whether or not the foundation under our government will include donations from Japanese companies, mainly Keidanren.
However, Japanese companies, which are defendants in a lawsuit for compensation for forced labor during the Japanese colonial period, said today that the issue of compensation for forced labor was already resolved by the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement, and that they would not comment on the solution to the compensation issue announced by the Korean government, Kyodo News reported.
Nippon Steel, the defendant company, said after the Korean government’s announcement, “We recognize that this issue was resolved by the 1965 Korea-Japan Claims Settlement Agreement.”
“We will continue to respond appropriately to this matter,” he added.
[앵커]
How does Japan analyze the background of Korea’s forced labor solution?
[기자]
yes. Japanese media reported that there was a cautious opinion within the Korean government regarding the proposal made by the Korean government in January.
However, it is believed that President Yoon’s perception that the issue of conscription must be resolved at a time when the threat from North Korea is escalating and the ties between Korea and Japan and the US and Japan must be strengthened accordingly has played a strong role.
In addition, as the second half of this year is approaching the Korean general election, it is analyzed that now is the right time to solve sensitive issues between Korea and Japan.
However, the South Korean government sees how to overcome opposition from political circles, civic groups, and victims of conscription centered on the opposition party as a task.
This is YTN Kim Se-ho from Tokyo so far.
YTN Seho Kim ([email protected])
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