S. Korean FM calls for closer ties with Japan

SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan called for
joint efforts with Japan to further improve bilateral relations Thursday,
welcoming Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada on his two-day visit here for
ministerial talks.

"The relationship between our two countries has steadily improved since the
launch of the new Japanese government last year based on the friendship between
our leaders," Yu said in a meeting with the Japanese foreign minister, who
arrived here late Wednesday.
"I wish to further improve our bilateral ties," the South Korean minister added.
Yu and the Japanese minister were scheduled to hold a joint press conference
after their bilateral talks, the first of their kind to be held here since Okada
took office last year following his Democratic Party's rise to power.
The talks were drawing keen attention as 2010 marks the 100th anniversary of the
start of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.
South Korean officials earlier noted the Yu-Okada meeting here may mark the
beginning of joint efforts by the countries to put their shared past behind and
start building a new, sound relationship that will guide them for the next
century.
"I believe there must be a thorough reflection of the past by the side that
inflicted injuries," South Korea's ambassador to Japan, Kwon Chul-hyun, said
Tuesday. He added that South Korea must also be ready to forgive.
Thursday's meeting was also expected to focus on North Korea's continued boycott
of six-nation talks on ending its nuclear programs.
"The two ministers will discuss a variety of bilateral and regional issues,
including the six-party talks over the North Korean nuclear issue and ways to
increase their cooperation in the international community," an official at the
South Korean foreign ministry told reporters earlier.
South Korea and Japan are part of the nuclear negotiations that also involve the
United States, China and Russia. The talks were last held in December 2008.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)

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