S. Korean Foreign Ministry Opens Japan Studies Center

Seoul, Aug. 12 (Jiji Press)--The Korea National Diplomatic Academy, an affiliate of the South Korean Foreign Ministry, opened the Center for Japanese Studies on Wednesday. With the initial personnel of around 10, the center will study bilateral relations and advise on South Korea's medium- to long-term diplomatic strategy toward Japan. Another key mission is to make connections with think tanks and experts in Japan. Although this year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of the two countries' diplomatic relations, the bilateral ties remain strained, academy Chancellor Yun Duk-min told reporters. It is necessary for both countries to enhance their research of each other and deepen mutual understanding, Duk also said. So far, the academy has directly worked on Japan-related research. While the academy has an independent institute for Chinese studies, there was none that specialized in Japan. Calls for a Japanese studies center were mounting, mainly from South Korean lawmakers. In a speech at the opening ceremony, South Korean Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se expressed high hopes for the center, saying that given the importance of the two nation's relationship, the foundation of the center was long overdue. Yun also discussed Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's statement, to be issued Friday, to mark the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. The statement will be a touchstone of the future relations between the countries, the foreign minister said. If it clearly upholds the views on history of the past Japanese governments, it will give a strong impetus to a virtuous cycle in the bilateral relationship, he said. Abe's planned statement is drawing attention over whether it will include the key words seen in similar war anniversary statements in the past, such as "apology" for the country's wartime acts. END