Tokyo will be the place where the two Northeast Asian powers seek to mend relations.
(Baonghean) - The meeting between Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon is expected to be an "important driving force" in resolving tensions related to historical and trade issues between the two countries, Yonhap news agency reported on October 20, citing South Korean Deputy Prime Minister Hong Nam-ki.
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| Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his South Korean counterpart Lee Nak-yon. Photo: Yonhap |
The South Korean Prime Minister is expected to travel to Tokyo to attend Emperor Naruhito’s enthronement ceremony on October 22. Analysts expect the meeting to be a stepping stone to warming relations between the two countries after recent tensions.
South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon is scheduled to have a one-on-one meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. However, the specific time has not been announced.
“The meeting between Prime Minister Lee and Prime Minister Abe, which takes place on the occasion of the Japanese Emperor's enthronement, could become an important driving force,” the South Korean Deputy Prime Minister said during a press conference in Washington.
In addition, Mr. Hong also said that the agreement to share military intelligence between South Korea and Japan, which will end next month, could become a driving force to help the two sides resolve long-standing tensions.
The South Korean deputy prime minister added that the government is trying to resolve the issues through dialogue, and that behind-the-scenes discussions are also underway with Japan. However, working-level talks still have limitations.
“I think Prime Minister Lee's visit to Japan is an important opportunity to make progress,” he said.
South Korea and Japan are locked in a dispute over Tokyo’s export restrictions, which are seen as political retaliation after a South Korean court last year ordered Japanese companies to compensate Korean workers forced into labor during Japan’s occupation of the Korean peninsula.
Tensions show no signs of abating as Seoul has decided to withdraw from a military intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan. Analysts fear that Seoul’s decision could weaken the trilateral security alliance between Japan, South Korea and the United States, leading to major changes in the region’s long-standing economic and security structures.
