President Lee Jae-myung will visit Japan on the 13th to discuss humanitarian cooperation on "history issues" with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. With the two countries pledging an unreserved meeting as part of "shuttle diplomacy," attention is on whether Tokyo will take more advanced steps on sensitive issues such as the Josei undersea coal mine case.
Wi Sung-lac, director of the Office of National Security, said at a briefing at the Chunchugwan press center at the Blue House on the 9th regarding President Lee Jae-myung's visit to Japan, "We expect to strengthen cooperation on history issues on a humanitarian level." In particular, on the issue of exhuming the remains of Korean victims at the Josei undersea coal mine in Yamaguchi Prefecture, he said, "We want to use this as an opportunity for Korea and Japan to cooperate on humanitarian grounds." In 1942, 136 Koreans drowned and died at the Josei mine, and the idea is for the two countries to jointly discuss exhuming the Korean remains.
The leaders of Korea and Japan are meeting for the third time since the Korea-Japan summit held on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju at the end of Oct. last year and the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Nov. This is the second visit to Japan since inauguration. After this summit, the two countries plan to make a joint announcement to the media on the agreements. However, there will not be a "joint document." The director said, "We will stand together before the press and make announcements, but we are not producing a joint document between Korea and Japan."
Since the launch of the Takaichi cabinet, there has been much concern at home about its "far-right leanings." Prime Minister Takaichi has been called the "female Abe," inheriting the economic, diplomatic and security line of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who took a hard-line stance on Korea-Japan history issues. Although she has vowed to establish shuttle diplomacy, there are forecasts that Japan will maintain an uncooperative attitude on history issues.
The director said, "History issues between Korea and Japan always exist," adding, "What we are doing is to steadily build up cooperation on the present and future, accumulate the goodwill and positive energy that arises from that, and produce good results while the sun is shining." He went on, "When we later have to deal with difficult matters—if there comes a rainy day—we want to try to resolve issues with the good energy accumulated until then," and said, "Rather than making things difficult by starting with disputes, we are trying to build cooperation and create a virtuous cycle to solve difficult problems."
◇ Impact of rare earth export controls likely to come up, along with current China-Japan tensions
The impact on Korea of China's "rare earth export controls against Japan" could also be mentioned. The director said, "Export controls can affect each other," adding, "In our case, it will not be irrelevant. There is a possibility it will be discussed." Asked whether this issue could be discussed at the summit with Japan, he replied, "That is also possible."
Regarding China-Japan tensions, attention is also on whether the cross-strait (China and Taiwan) issue will be mentioned. That is because China began economic pressure by restricting rare earth exports two months after Prime Minister Takaichi hinted in Nov. last year at "intervening in the event of a Taiwan contingency." The director said, "When Korea-Japan or Korea-China summits are held, it is common to talk about the surrounding region and the situation," adding, "At the Korea-China summit as well, there were similar discussions on the situation and we exchanged each side's positions. Between Korea and Japan, too, I think we can provide explanations on recent changes and trends."
According to the Blue House, on the first day of the summit on the 13th, President Lee will hold a one-on-one meeting with only a few aides present, followed by an expanded meeting. The results of the talks will be jointly announced by President Lee and Prime Minister Takaichi. On the morning of the 14th, the two leaders will visit Horyuji, a famous ancient Buddhist temple in Nara Prefecture. The western precinct of Horyuji is known as the oldest existing wooden architecture. President Lee will then meet with members of the Korean community in the Kansai region, including Osaka, and return home the same day.