2023-05-09 15:45:00
Koji Tomita, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, explains the main agenda of the G7 summit in Hiroshima at the National Press Club in Washington on the 9th (local time). Washington/Correspondent Yujin Kim
Japanese Ambassador to the U.S. Koji Tomita said on the 9th (local time) that President Yoon Seok-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida decided to pay their respects together at the memorial stone for Korean victims of the atomic bombing during the G7 summit in Hiroshima. He said he hopes to contribute to improvement.
In a conversation hosted by the Washington National Press Club that day, Ambassador Tomita was asked, “Japan first proposed visiting the memorial to the Korean side, and can this be seen as Prime Minister Kishida’s attempt to express regret over a historical mistake?” It is part of a joint effort to improve bilateral relations between the two countries.”
Ambassador Tomita said, “Prime Minister Kishida’s remarks in Seoul are part of an effort to improve relations.
Earlier, at a joint press conference after the summit meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, who visited Korea on the 7th, President Yoon said, “On the occasion of my visit to Hiroshima, the two leaders agreed to visit and pay respects together at the memorial stone for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima Peace Park.” At a joint press conference after the Korea-Japan summit on the 7th, Prime Minister Kishida said, “It is heartbreaking that many people have had difficult experiences in a harsh environment.” When asked if he meant victims of forced labor, Prime Minister Kishida presumed that it was a ‘personal opinion’, saying, “This is my personal opinion about those who were going through a very difficult time at the time.”
On this day, Ambassador Tomita also mentioned progress in South Korea-Japan relations, citing China and North Korea as “still a serious challenge.” “Prime Minister Kishida visited Korea last weekend following President Yoon’s important visit to Japan in March,” he said. “In the process, great progress was made in resolving pending issues between the two countries.” He added, “Korea-Japan cooperation is a key factor in ensuring security in the region, including responding to North Korean issues. In particular, in responding to North Korean issues, not only bilateral cooperation, but also trilateral cooperation between Korea, the US, and Japan is very important.”
Koji Tomita, Japanese Ambassador to the United States, speaks during a dialogue held at the National Press Club in Washington on the 9th (local time) on the subject of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima. Washington/Correspondent Yujin Kim
When asked if the United States and Japan are jointly developing a hypersonic missile interceptor system, Ambassador Tomita said, “I am not in a position to confirm,” but said, “The United States and Japan have a history of close cooperation in missile defense (MD) systems.” “The North Korean missile threat is a serious challenge, so it is given priority,” he said. “At the same time, in preparation for rapid environmental changes, the task is to encompass space and cyberspace and integrate approaches in each area.”
When asked if there was a message he expected from President Biden, just as President Barack Obama, who visited Hiroshima for the first time as a US president in 2016, revealed his vision of a world without nuclear weapons, he said, “This is a multilateral conference visit, so we will ask President Biden “I am not asking for specific action,” he said, “but I hope that the efforts of mankind to curb the use of nuclear weapons for 77 years will not be wasted.” He said, “Efforts for a world without nuclear weapons are in a difficult situation due to Russia’s nuclear threat and the stagnation of international nuclear disarmament discussions. said.
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