In Face of Moon's Letter, Abe Reiterates Criticism of S. Korea

Tokyo, Oct. 24 (Jiji Press)--Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reiterated his criticism on Thursday of South Korea for allegedly violating international law over the issue of conscripted labor during World War II, while receiving a personal letter from South Korean President Moon Jae-in the same day. Abe made the remarks at a meeting with visiting South Korean Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, who handed Moon's letter to the Japanese leader. In the letter, Moon stressed that Japan is an important partner in promoting peace and stability in Northeast Asia and said that the two countries should make efforts to resolve pending bilateral issues promptly, according to South Korean media reports. During the 20-minute meeting, Abe and Lee agreed that the two countries should not leave their current relationship, viewed by some as the worst since their diplomatic normalization, as it is. But at the same time, Abe claimed that last year's South Korean top court rulings against Japanese companies over the wartime labor issue "clearly violate international law and fundamentally undermine the legal foundations of Japan-South Korea relations," according to Japanese officials. "We want South Korea to begin working to restore sound bilateral relations by keeping promises made between the two countries," Abe said. Tokyo claims that the South Korean court rulings have created a situation that violates a 1965 bilateral pact that confirmed the complete and final resolution of the issue of war-related claims and others. It included Japanese economic aid to South Korea. The Moon administration has not taken action to meet Japan's request to correct the situation. Lee stressed that South Korea has respected and abided by the pact, as well as the 1965 Japan-South Korea basic treaty that normalized the ties, and will continue to do so. Lee said that he believes the two countries can overcome the current difficult situation by gathering wisdom. Abe told Lee that South Korea is an important neighbor of Japan and that cooperation between the two countries and also with the United States is crucial to resolve issues related to North Korea. Abe indicated his government's readiness to continue diplomatic talks with South Korea to settle the wartime labor row. Lee agreed on the importance of dialogue. Lee, who used to work as a Tokyo correspondent for a South Korean newspaper, is known as a pro-Japan official. The Abe-Lee meeting was part of the former's "marathon" diplomacy with many foreign dignitaries invited to Japan to attend Emperor Naruhito's enthronement proclamation ceremony, held on Tuesday. The Tokyo-Seoul relationship has rapidly worsened, due to tit-for-tat trade measures and Seoul's decision to scrap a military information-sharing pact with Japan, as well as the wartime labor dispute. Neither Abe nor Lee took up the trade issue or the South Korean decision to scrap the bilateral General Security of Military Information Agreement, or GSOMIA, because the meeting was too short, according to sources with access to the talks. Abe and Moon have not had an official bilateral meeting since they met in New York in September 2018. Later this year, the two leaders will attend international gatherings, including those related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but there are no plans for bilateral talks on the sidelines. END