SEOULΜύ–Μύ³§΄Η³ά³Ω³σΜύKorean PresidentΜύ³Ϋ΄Η΄Η²ΤΜύSuk Yeol said on Wednesday thatΜύ³¦΄Η΄Η±θ±π°ω²Ή³ΩΎ±΄Η²ΤΜύwithΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²ΤΜύisΜύ±ΉΎ±³Ω²Ή±τΜύin confrontingΜύ±·΄Η°ω³Ω³σΜύ°΄Η°ω±π²Ή’²υΜύgrowing threats and protecting globalΜύ²υ³ά±θ±θ±τ²βΜύchains, calling on both countries to not snarl relations in domestic politics.
Mr. Yoon made the remarks in a written interview with international media, including Reuters, as he prepares to depart for Tokyo on Thursday for a meeting withΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²Τese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first such visit in 12 years.
The planned trip comes afterΒ ³§΄Η³ά³Ω³σΜύ°΄Η°ω±π²ΉΜύ its companies would compensate victims of forced labor underΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²Τ‘s colonial rule from 1910-1945, seeking to end a dispute that has undermined US-led efforts to present a unified front against China andΜύ±·΄Η°ω³Ω³σΒ Korea.
“There is an increasing need forΒ °΄Η°ω±π²ΉΜύandΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²ΤΜύto cooperate in this time of a polycrisis, withΜύ±·΄Η°ω³Ω³σΒ Korean nuclear and missile threats escalating and globalΜύ²υ³ά±θ±θ±τ²βΜύ³¦³σ²ΉΎ±²Τ²υΜύbeing disrupted,”Μύ³Ϋ΄Η΄Η²ΤΜύsaid. “We cannot afford to waste time while leaving strainedΜύ°΄Η°ω±π²Ή–΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²ΤΜύrelations unattended.”
Some of the victims who were forced to work underΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²Τese colonial rule have rejected the government’s compensation plan, potentially complicating Seoul’s efforts to end the diplomatic spat.
But Mr. Yoon said it was time for the people of the two countries to move forward “rather than confront over the past”, adding thatΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²ΤΜύhas expressed “deep remorse and heartfelt apology in regard to its past colonial rule through the position of its previous governments”.
“What matters is to ensure that such positions and behavior continue unwaveringly,” Mr. Yoon said, urging both countries to “guard against bilateral relations being exploited for domestic politics”.
Yoon‘s visit comes afterΜύ±·΄Η°ω³Ω³σΒ °΄Η°ω±π²ΉΜύfired two short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Tuesday, the latest in a series of weapons tests after leader Kim Jong Un ordered the military to step up drills.
“To deterΜύ±·΄Η°ω³Ω³σΜύ°΄Η°ω±π²Ή’²υΜύever-more sophisticated nuclear and missile threats, we have to further strengthen ROK-US-΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²ΤΜύsecurityΜύ³¦΄Η΄Η±θ±π°ω²Ή³ΩΎ±΄Η²Τ,”Μύ³Ϋ΄Η΄Η²ΤΜύsaid, adding he expected an intelligence-sharing pact withΜύ΄³²Ή±θ²Ή²Τ, known as GSOMIA, to be invigorated as two countries restore trust. – Reuters
