S. Korean FM calls for better ties with Japan before FTA

By Byun Duk-kun
TOKYO, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan on Friday
called for increased efforts to improve ties between his country and Japan, also
noting improved business ties must precede efforts to open up free trade between
the countries.

Yu's apparent opposition to a hasty signing of a free trade deal with Japan came
in a meeting with leaders of Japan's most influential business association, the
Japanese Business Federation, known as Nippon Keidanren.
The head of the Japanese business association and also the chairman of Canon
Corp., Fujio Mitarai, called for an early conclusion of talks for a Korea-Japan
free trade agreement (FTA), saying economic cooperation and trade between the
already close countries would significantly increase.
Yu agreed that an FTA would benefit both of the countries, but said the countries
first need to make sure such benefits would be well-balanced and equal to their
economies, according to a spokesman for South Korea's foreign ministry.
"The minister noted South Korea wishes to push for an early signing of a FTA
while improving its cooperation with Japan, but he also stressed the importance
of a need to make sure the envisioned FTA will be balanced and mutual in terms of
its benefits for the countries," the ministry spokesman, Kim Young-sun, told
reporters here.
Yu arrived in Tokyo earlier Friday on a three-day visit. He will attend the Forum
of East Asia and Latin America for Cooperation on Saturday following his
bilateral talks with Japanese Foreign Minister.
The South Korean minister said the countries will seek to further improve their
ties this year by strengthening what is known as "shuttle diplomacy" by their
heads of state.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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