Japan, S.korea Agree To Seek Early Resolution Of Wartime Labor Issue
The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have agreed to work for an early resolution of the issue of wartime labor.
Hayashi Yoshimasa and his South Korean counterpart Park Jin met in Tokyo on Monday.
This is the first time in about three years that a South Korean foreign minister has visited Japan. The meeting lasted more than two and a half hours.
Park offered condolences regarding former Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who was fatally shot while giving an election campaign speech this month. Hayashi expressed gratitude in return.
Hayashi reiterated that it is necessary to resolve matters of concern for the two countries, such as wartime labor and those referred to as comfort women, to develop bilateral relations.
On the issue of wartime labor, Park expressed intent to work on hammering out a desirable solution before assets seized from Japanese firms are liquidated.
South Korean courts have ordered Japanese companies to pay compensation to South Korean plaintiffs who say they or their relatives were forced to work for the firms during World War Two.
Judicial proceedings are underway in South Korea to liquidate the companies' seized assets.
The two ministers also agreed to denounce Russia's invasion of Ukraine and work more closely to tackle issues involving North Korea.
Park will be in Japan until Wednesday. Officials from the two countries are arranging a meeting between him and Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.