Japan's Foreign Minister Visiting S.korea To Attend Presidential Inauguration
Japan's Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa is on a two-day visit to South Korea to attend president-elect Yoon Suk-yeol's inauguration ceremony.
The visit is the first to South Korea by a Japanese foreign minister since June 2018.
Hayashi will attend Tuesday's ceremony as a special envoy of Prime Minister Kishida Fumio.
Arrangements are also being made for Hayashi to meet Yoon and key members of the new administration.
Yoon has expressed willingness to mend relations between the two countries. The ties are said to be at an all-time low.
Before his departure, Hayashi told reporters that the relations remain strained particularly due to issues including wartime labor and those referred to as comfort women, but that the issues should not be left unattended.
Hayashi said, "In order to restore healthy relations with South Korea, I think it is important to have close communication with its new government, including incoming president Yoon, based on Japan's stance."
The minister disclosed that he will also present a personal letter from Kishida to Yoon.