![]() The conservative Chosun Ilbo, South Korea's biggest newspaper by circulation, acknowledged that Kishida's comments were insufficient to ease South Korean frustrations over history but also said that the summit reflected the countries' "desperate" need for cooperation. "Normalizing relations between South Korea and Japan is a necessity, and I am in favor of it, but not at the cost of our national interests, national dignity, history and justice," said Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung, who narrowly lost to Yoon in last year's presidential race. Yoon had faced criticism at home that he had preemptively made concessions to Tokyo without getting corresponding steps in return, and opposition politicians and some newspapers described the summit as a disappointment. "For both the South Korea and Japanese governments, the resumption of 'shuttle diplomacy' in itself is a win," he said, referring to regular visits between leaders. Seoul's Foreign Ministry said the South Korean inspection team will consist of experts from related government agencies and organizations and that it will soon hold talks with Japanese officials to set up their visit planned for May 23-24.Īsia Understanding the latest efforts to normalize relations between Japan and South Korea He addressed South Korean concerns about food safety following Japan's 2011 nuclear disaster, saying Tokyo will allow South Korean experts to inspect a planned release of treated radioactive water from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant. Kishida also said he and Yoon would pay respects before a memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima during the G-7 meetings. He reaffirmed his government upholds the positions of previous Japanese administrations on the colonization issue, including the landmark 1998 joint declaration by then-South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi, in which Obuchi said: "I feel acute remorse and offer an apology from my heart." In a news conference Sunday, Kishida avoided a new, direct apology over the colonization but still sympathized with the Korean victims, saying he personally feels "strong pain in my heart" over their ordeals, in an apparent effort to maintain momentum for improving ties. South Korean Buddhist monks, Buddhists and members of civic groups bow which they prostrate themselves, in a march during a rally demanding the stop of Japanese government's decision to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima, at Jogye temple in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 8, 2023. Critics, including Yoon's liberal opponents who control majority in the National Assembly, said Kishida's comments fell short of a meaningful apology and accused Yoon of letting Japan off the hook over its past aggressions while pushing to repair bilateral ties. ![]() The summit, which was the second meeting between the leaders in less than two months, drew a mixed reaction in South Korea. Kishida during Sunday's meeting expressed sympathy toward Koreans forced into industrial slavery during Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula as the leaders vowed to overcome historical grievances and strengthen cooperation in the face of a nuclear North Korea and other challenges. SEOUL, South Korea - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Monday called for officials to map out specific steps to hasten security and economic cooperation with Japan following his weekend summit in Seoul with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center, leaves after meeting with business leaders at a hotel in Seoul, South Korea, Monday, May 8, 2023.
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