REUTERS
September 24, 2021 at 08:10 JST
Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
WASHINGTON--Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong on Thursday and the two restated positions in a dispute that has brought tit-for-tat trade restrictions, but agreed to accelerate consultations to resolve the issue, Japan's account of the meeting said.
Motegi and Chung met in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
A historic feud over Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea including over "comfort women," Japan's euphemism for mostly Korean women forced to provide sex to Japanese soldiers before and during World War II, has long soured bilateral ties between the two important U.S. allies.
The dispute in recent years has brought tit-for-tat export curbs and threatened security cooperation between the neighbors, despite the shared threat they face from North Korea.
Japan's foreign ministry said Motegi and Chung reaffirmed the importance of cooperation between their countries in the interests of regional stability, including in dealing with North Korea.
When it came to the dispute, "Motegi firmly conveyed Japan's principled positions on these issues and renewed his call for (South Korea) to take appropriate actions. Concerning these issues, Minister Chung gave explanations based on (South Korea's) positions," it said in a statement.
At the same time, the ministers "shared the view on accelerating consultations and communication through the diplomatic channels in order to restore sound ... relations and then to make it possible to cooperate in a wide range of areas," it said.
Chung said on Wednesday Seoul believed the issues could be resolved through dialogue.
He said it was unfortunate trade restrictions had resulted from political differences and he hoped these could be resolved soon, otherwise Seoul would have to bring them before a World Trade Organization panel.
Chung and Motegi met on the sidelines of the G-7 meeting in Britain in May but did not manage then to narrow their differences.
South Korea foreign minister says to meet Japan counterpart on Thursday
September 23, 2021
Japan, S. Korea foreign ministers meet for 1st time in over a year
May 6, 2021
Suga tells S. Korea it’s time to fix strained ties
September 25, 2020
South Korean foreign minister meets Chinese counterpart
April 3, 2021
After China, U.S. envoy Kerry in South Korea for climate talks
April 18, 2021
U.S., Japan, South Korea diplomats review North Korea strategy
May 6, 2021
Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors.
A peek through the music industry’s curtain at the producers who harnessed social media to help their idols go global.
Cooking experts, chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life.
A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry
A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II
