The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'

  • 3

    Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3

  • 5

    Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan

  • 7

    North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon

  • 9

    Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era

  • 11

    Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week

  • 13

    What's next for Do Kwon?

  • 15

    BTS' Jimin releases solo album

  • 17

    Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek

  • 19

    Samsung Electronics chief to attend China Development Forum

  • 2

    Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape

  • 4

    Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour

  • 6

    Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate

  • 8

    N. Korea tests 'underwater nuclear attack drone,' cruise missiles for nuclear warhead: KCNA

  • 10

    Hybe to sell SM shares to Kakao following failed takeover bid

  • 12

    Kakao Entertainment, Colombia Record team up for IVE's North American debut

  • 14

    Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president

  • 16

    Crypto founder Do Kwon is indicted in US, following Montenegro arrest

  • 18

    More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism

  • 20

    Samsung Display strike looms due to deadlocked wage negotiations

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, March 26, 2023 | 08:56
Foreign Affairs
Will Japanese PM Kishida accept Yoon's olive branch?
Posted : 2022-06-30 10:46
Updated : 2022-07-01 17:10
Nam Hyun-woo
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link
President Yoon Suk-yeol gestures as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stands behind him during their attendance at the summit for NATO member countries and partner nations at IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap
President Yoon Suk-yeol gestures as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stands behind him during their attendance at the summit for NATO member countries and partner nations at IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

President Yoon shows strong interest in mending Korea-Japan relations; now ball is in Japanese PM's court

By Nam Hyun-woo

MADRID ― President Yoon Suk-yeol actively expressed his willingness to sit down with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida for a summit in an apparent move to thaw chilly bilateral relations, whenever he had chances to speak to the Japanese leader at the 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain.

Throughout the summit, Yoon encountered Kishida a total of five times: first at a gala dinner on Tuesday; then during four-way talks among NATO's partners in the Asia-Pacific, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand (informally known as the Asia-Pacific Four or AP4); then in a trilateral summit among Seoul, Washington and Tokyo; next at a photo session among the AP4 leaders and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg; and finally in a summit between NATO members and the Asia-Pacific partner countries.

Yoon actively expressed his hopes for improving Seoul-Tokyo ties in a straightforward manner.

During their meeting at the gala dinner, Yoon told Kishida he wants to "resolve issues that stand in the way of improving Seoul-Tokyo ties as soon as possible after Japan's upper house election, in order to establish future-oriented bilateral relations." Kishida responded favorably that he also hopes for "a healthier relationship."

Their exchange of diplomatic words came after the botched Yoon-Kishida summit on the sidelines of the NATO event.

Earlier this month, Seoul's presidential office had said that chances were unlikely for a Seoul-Tokyo summit in Spain, because Japan will hold an upper house of parliament election on July 10. Since a summit between South Korea and Japan is bound to entail discussion of historical issues, which is a sensitive subject for both sides, the summit having results that are favorable to Seoul could negatively affect the sentiment of Japanese voters ― especially conservatives ― watchers said.

S. Korea, US, Japan agree to step up pressure on North Korea
S. Korea, US, Japan agree to step up pressure on North Korea
2022-06-29 22:39  |  Foreign Affairs

So, according to the presidential office, conditions for a possible Seoul-Tokyo summit would be better after the elections in Japan.

President Yoon Suk-yeol gestures as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stands behind him during their attendance at the summit for NATO member countries and partner nations at IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap
President Yoon Suk-yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida applaud during the summit between the NATO member countries and partner nations at the IFEMA Convention Center in Madrid, Spain, Wednesday (local time). Yonhap

After discussing regional issues with Kishida at the four-way talks among the Asia-Pacific partner countries a day later, Yoon told reporters that he was "convinced that Prime Minister Kishida is a partner with whom he can resolve thorny issues together to improve bilateral ties." His favorable comment about the Japanese prime minister shows Yoon's intention to be more active in improving the bilateral ties.

Despite Yoon's willingness, watchers said mending Seoul-Tokyo ties will be a waiting game. Except for the indirect encounters, the two leaders didn't sit down in bilateral talks or even a brief pull-aside meeting.

The four-way talks among NATO's four Asia-Pacific partner countries were also set up at the last minute, because the participating countries had difficulties narrowing their differences over the meeting, officials said.

"Though it is difficult to specify, Japan appears to have sought to hold the four-way talks in an official format, as the country might want to show off such a scene to its people before its elections," a senior official at the presidential office said. "For South Korea, however, it was more reasonable to have the meeting as an occasion to freely share leaders' opinions and materialize common goals if any."

The Seoul-Washington-Japan summit, which took place for the first time in four years and nine months, is described as a signal that South Korea and Japan may expedite their efforts to improve their ties, but Kishida's remarks on Japan's hopes to enhance its military power during the summit nevertheless cast doubt on such prospects.

Japan's intention to enhance its military capability may lead to a negative response from South Koreans given the history between the two countries. Seoul's foreign ministry said last month that "Japan's self-defense and security policy should be aligned with the spirit of its Peace Constitution," which outlaws the country maintaining armed forces with war potential and instead highlights self-defense.

As Yoon appears to be offering an olive branch to Japan, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold after Japan's election.

"During the summit, the two leaders both showed signs that they are ready to repair bilateral relations," another official at the presidential office said. "The remaining tasks are how their aides and ministries will open their minds and develop candid discussions."




Emailnamhw@koreatimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
Top 10 Stories
1Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape Zoo shares sad story of what caused Sero the zebra to escape
2Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan Genesis launches 2023 G90 sedan
3Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate Churches, Seoul gov't unite to fight low birthrate
4North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon North Korea will pay price for reckless provocations, warns Yoon
5Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era Kyochon heralds 30,000 won fried chicken era
6Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week Burnout: Cardiothoracic surgery residents work 102 hours a week
7What's next for Do Kwon? What's next for Do Kwon?
8Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president Second daughter of Daesang chairman promoted to vice president
9Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek Over 70% of firms unwilling to embrace longer workweek
10More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism More companies adopt electronic voting amid increase in shareholder activism
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol' Kim Min-gyu, Go Bo-gyeol bid farewell to 'The Heavenly Idol'
2Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him Yoo Yeon-seok threatens to sue people spreading accusations about him
3Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3 Han Suk-kyu on return of 'Dr. Romantic' with Season 3
4Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour Kim Nam-gil to embark on Asia fan-meeting tour
5Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series Lee Som, Ahn Jae-hong to play married couple in Tving's new series
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group