ID :
106092
Thu, 02/11/2010 - 20:55
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/106092
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea, Japan call for fresh start, resumption of 6-way talks
(ATTN: CHANGES slug, headline; UPDATES with additional remarks from foreign
ministers of South Korea and Japan; ADDS additional background, details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and
Japan's visiting Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada called for joint efforts Thursday
to truly mend ties between their countries as the Japanese minister offered a
rare apology for Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.
"Regarding what happened 100 years ago, Japan deprived Koreans of their nation
and left a great wound on their national pride," Okada told a joint press
conference with Yu after their talks here.
"I can understand the feelings of the people who were deprived of their nation
and had their national pride damaged," he added. "We should not forget the pain
of the victims (of the colonialization)."
The Japanese foreign minister was earlier misquoted by his interpreter as calling
the Japanese colonial rule of Korea a "tragic incident."
Still, Okada's remarks were widely viewed as an apology as the countries were set
to mark this year the 100th anniversary of the start of Japan's colonial rule of
Korea, during which hundreds of thousands of Koreans were forced to do labor for
Japan or into front-line brothels in World War II. Many of them were killed.
Okada also said the Tokyo government stands by a 1995 statement issued by then
Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, in which Japan offered a "heartfelt
apology" for causing "tremendous damage and suffering to the people" of countries
colonized or invaded by Japan.
"Minister Okada and I noted the relationship between the two countries is
becoming closer than ever and we agreed to further develop our relations while
working to solve the issues related to the countries' past history," Yu told the
press conference.
Seoul and Tokyo established relations in 1965, but their ties have often been
strained by what many South Koreans believed were Japanese attempts to whitewash
its past wrongdoing.
Okada, who arrived here Wednesday, called on the countries to start building a
new, future-oriented relationship.
"While doing so (keeping in mind the past sufferings of Korean victims), I
believe we must move toward building a truly friendly and future-oriented
relationship for the next 100 years to come," he told the press conference.
The ministers said one of ways to improve the bilateral relationship was to
increase exchanges between their people. To this end, the countries agreed to
increase to 10,000 the number of students on work-study visas between the
countries, the South Korean minister said.
Okada said Tokyo will "discreetly" consider a possible visit to South Korea by
Japanese Emperor Akihito. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak offered an
invitation to the Japanese monarch last year.
The two ministers also discussed other bilateral and regional issues, saying the
countries will also work to strengthen their cooperation in dealing with
international issues, such as the climate change and the global economic crisis.
"South Korea and Japan agreed to continue working very closely on the North
Korean nuclear issue," South Korea's Yu said.
Okada stressed the need to maintain what he called a "strategic understanding"
among the five other countries involved in nuclear negotiations with North Korea
to resume the stalled talks and denuclearize the communist North.
Yu noted the recent exchange of visits by ranking officials between Beijing and
Pyongyang indicated a positive sign for the resumption of the six-nation talks,
last held in December 2008, but said it was still too early to assume they will
be resumed in the near future.
"But we hope such contacts (with North Korea) will lead to a positive movement
toward the resumption of the six-party talks," he told the press conference.
The talks involve both South and North Korea, the United States, Japan, China and
Russia.
The Japanese foreign minister was set to return home later Thursday following his
meeting with President Lee and Prime Minister Chung Un-chan.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
ministers of South Korea and Japan; ADDS additional background, details)
By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Yonhap) -- South Korean Foreign Minister Yu Myung-hwan and
Japan's visiting Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada called for joint efforts Thursday
to truly mend ties between their countries as the Japanese minister offered a
rare apology for Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of Korea.
"Regarding what happened 100 years ago, Japan deprived Koreans of their nation
and left a great wound on their national pride," Okada told a joint press
conference with Yu after their talks here.
"I can understand the feelings of the people who were deprived of their nation
and had their national pride damaged," he added. "We should not forget the pain
of the victims (of the colonialization)."
The Japanese foreign minister was earlier misquoted by his interpreter as calling
the Japanese colonial rule of Korea a "tragic incident."
Still, Okada's remarks were widely viewed as an apology as the countries were set
to mark this year the 100th anniversary of the start of Japan's colonial rule of
Korea, during which hundreds of thousands of Koreans were forced to do labor for
Japan or into front-line brothels in World War II. Many of them were killed.
Okada also said the Tokyo government stands by a 1995 statement issued by then
Japanese Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama, in which Japan offered a "heartfelt
apology" for causing "tremendous damage and suffering to the people" of countries
colonized or invaded by Japan.
"Minister Okada and I noted the relationship between the two countries is
becoming closer than ever and we agreed to further develop our relations while
working to solve the issues related to the countries' past history," Yu told the
press conference.
Seoul and Tokyo established relations in 1965, but their ties have often been
strained by what many South Koreans believed were Japanese attempts to whitewash
its past wrongdoing.
Okada, who arrived here Wednesday, called on the countries to start building a
new, future-oriented relationship.
"While doing so (keeping in mind the past sufferings of Korean victims), I
believe we must move toward building a truly friendly and future-oriented
relationship for the next 100 years to come," he told the press conference.
The ministers said one of ways to improve the bilateral relationship was to
increase exchanges between their people. To this end, the countries agreed to
increase to 10,000 the number of students on work-study visas between the
countries, the South Korean minister said.
Okada said Tokyo will "discreetly" consider a possible visit to South Korea by
Japanese Emperor Akihito. South Korean President Lee Myung-bak offered an
invitation to the Japanese monarch last year.
The two ministers also discussed other bilateral and regional issues, saying the
countries will also work to strengthen their cooperation in dealing with
international issues, such as the climate change and the global economic crisis.
"South Korea and Japan agreed to continue working very closely on the North
Korean nuclear issue," South Korea's Yu said.
Okada stressed the need to maintain what he called a "strategic understanding"
among the five other countries involved in nuclear negotiations with North Korea
to resume the stalled talks and denuclearize the communist North.
Yu noted the recent exchange of visits by ranking officials between Beijing and
Pyongyang indicated a positive sign for the resumption of the six-nation talks,
last held in December 2008, but said it was still too early to assume they will
be resumed in the near future.
"But we hope such contacts (with North Korea) will lead to a positive movement
toward the resumption of the six-party talks," he told the press conference.
The talks involve both South and North Korea, the United States, Japan, China and
Russia.
The Japanese foreign minister was set to return home later Thursday following his
meeting with President Lee and Prime Minister Chung Un-chan.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)
