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Moon Jae-in said that South Korea and Japan must work together to “overcome difficulties” and promote cooperation.
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Sunday that the South Korean government is still willing to dialogue with Japan to strengthen cooperation while seeking to resolve historical disputes that have damaged bilateral relations for a long time.
In his speech on Liberation Day commemorating the 76th anniversary of Japan’s independence from colonial rule from 1910-45 after World War II, Moon Jae-in stated that the two countries should work together to “overcome difficulties” and promote cooperation based on the common values of democracy and market economy.
Moon Jae-in said: “Our government has always opened the door to dialogue, not only to jointly address the outstanding issues of the two countries, but also to jointly address the threats facing the world, including COVID-19 and the climate crisis.”
“For historical issues that need to be corrected, we will resolve them through actions and practices that conform to universal values and international social standards.”
Moon’s speech was delivered a few weeks later scrapped Plan to go to Tokyo to participate in the Olympic Games and hold the first summit with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
The South Korean leader called in his office that a Japanese diplomat based in Seoul had made unacceptable remarks and cancelled the meeting. He said that Moon Jae-in was “masturbating” when describing his efforts to improve relations between the two countries. “.
After a South Korean court ordered Tokyo to compensate victims who were forced to work for Japanese companies and their wartime military brothels, the relationship between South Korea and Japan has been at its lowest point in decades in recent years. These rulings aroused condemnation from Tokyo, which stated that these issues were resolved under a 1965 treaty that normalized diplomatic relations and other arrangements made later.
At the same time, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga held a commemorative ceremony in Tokyo to commemorate the anniversary of the end of World War II and promised that Japan would not launch war again. But he did not apologize to the Asian victims of Japanese aggression in the region during the first half of the 20th century—a precedent set by his predecessor, Shinzo Abe, who was often accused of trying to whitewash Japan’s cruel past.
Suga Yoshihide said in his speech: “After the war, Japan has been on the road of a country that values peace.” “We must never repeat the mistakes of war. We will continue to work on this belief.”
His comments received a response from Emperor Naruhito, who expressed “deep regret” for Japan’s wartime past, just as he had done before.
However, Yoshihide Suga’s cabinet and Shinzo Abe’s visit to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine on Sunday may anger China, North Korea and South Korea.
This Yasukuni Shrine dedicated to the Japanese war dead, including 14 World War II leaders designated as “A-level” war criminals, is a hot spot in South Korea and China.
On Sunday morning, Minister of Environment Shinjiro Koizumi and Minister of Education Hagi Koichi paid a visit to the shrine.
According to the Sankei newspaper, Yoshihide Suga is not expected to visit, although he did send the offerings through his secretary.
When Abe visited the Yasukuni Shrine as prime minister in 2013, it caused anger in Beijing and Seoul and “disappointment” in the United States. He did not become the prime minister again, but gave sacrifices.
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