South Korean leader arrives in Japan

The first visit to Japan was made by Yun Suk-yeol, who became president of South Korea in May 2022, on March 16, NHK reports.

Yoon arrived at Tokyo Haneda International Airport with his wife Kim Keon-hee and intends to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. At the meeting, he is expected to announce Seoul’s readiness to work on improving bilateral relations.

The South Korean government has reportedly expressed hope that regular visits by national leaders to one another will be restored, which came to a complete stop after a 2018 court ruling forcing two Japanese companies to pay compensation. to the victims of colonial activities in the first half of the 20th century. .

The South Korean court then decided that Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries should compensate the class of plaintiffs for damages caused during the use of forced labor by the inhabitants of the Korean Peninsula. The Japanese government then declared that it considered that all possible claims that South Korea could have under the agreement signed in 1965 would be completely eliminated and prohibited the companies from following the court decision.

As a result, for several years the leaders of the two countries did not greet each other at international events and stopped communicating altogether. In 2022, under pressure from Washington, the new leaders of these countries started negotiations again.

In March 2023, the South Korean authorities proposed creating a special fund to make payments, to which companies can voluntarily join.

At the meeting, Yun is expected to personally explain his plan to Kishida. In addition, the parties intend to hold a joint dinner to strengthen mutual trust.

Let’s remember that Yun, who received the post of head of South Korea in May, follows a policy of strengthening ties with Washington and Tokyo. Among the stated goals of this alliance is to work together to counter China and North Korea.

Source: Rossa Primavera