South Korea's Foreign Minister To Visit Japan
South Korea's Foreign Minister Park Jin on Monday starts his first visit to Japan since taking office. He is scheduled to meet Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa and other officials.
Park will be the first South Korean foreign minister to visit the country in about three years.
During his 3-day stay, a meeting between the foreign ministers is scheduled for Monday evening. Items on the agenda will likely include wartime labor, those referred to as comfort women, and other outstanding bilateral issues.
Park has expressed his willingness to hold talks with Prime Minister Kishida Fumio as well. Officials from the two countries are currently arranging a meeting.
Relations between Japan and South Korea are said to be at a postwar low due to pending issues.
South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has expressed his willingness to improve ties with Japan. The focus is on whether a visit by his foreign minister will lead to an improvement in bilateral ties.
The South Korean side also says it wants to pay respect to former Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo during Park's stay. Abe was fatally shot this month while making a campaign speech.