South Korea explains president's remarks on Vietnam

The South Korean Foreign Ministry explained the country's president's mention of war, affirming the importance of relations with Vietnam.

Mr. Cho June-hyuck, spokesman for the Korean Foreign Ministry. Photo: Yonhap

Cho June-hyuck, a spokesman for South Korea's Foreign Ministry, said yesterday that President Moon Jae-in's comments were meant to remind people of the need to provide "appropriate" support for those who "made sacrifices at the country's request," Yonhap reported.

Mr. Cho mentioned President Moon's June 6 honoring of Korean "meritorious people" who fought abroad, including the Vietnam War.

A representative of the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992, the two sides have continued to strengthen cooperation, sharing the belief that it is possible to put the past behind and move toward the future.

Mr. Cho affirmed that Seoul wishes to further strengthen cooperation with Hanoi, and the two sides will coordinate to develop friendly relations. "We attach great importance to our relationship with Vietnam," Mr. Cho said.

The South Korean army during the war in Vietnam killed 9,000 innocent Vietnamese people in massacres, according to an investigation by history doctor Ku Su-jeong.

Ms. Ku is also the initiator of the "Sincerely Apologize to Vietnam" movement, which has lasted for more than 10 years in Korea, with the viewpoint that "Koreans should take the initiative to apologize, not wait for Vietnamese people to demand it". Many Korean individuals and groups have returned to the Central region, kneeling before the memorial stele to apologize to Vietnam.

On the Vietnamese side, on June 9, a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs "sternly communicated" with a representative of the Korean Embassy in Vietnam after President Moon's comments.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang stated that Vietnam requests the Korean government not to take actions or make statements that hurt the feelings of the Vietnamese people and negatively affect the friendly cooperation between the two countries. Ms. Hang also said that Vietnam wishes to develop friendly relations with all countries, including Korea.

According to VNE