Japanese PM sends special message seeking summit with Korea

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe sent a special letter to President Park Geun-hye on Friday. The message is reportedly about holding the Korea-Japan summit to improve frosty ties between the two nations.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of normalization of the diplomatic ties between Korea and Japan. Accordingly, both nations are seeking to build future-oriented friendly relations. But the question is how Japanese Prime Minister will deal with the issue of sex slaves forced by Japanese army. Regarding the sex slave issue, President Park has requested several times for Japanese government’s sincere apology and recovery of tainted honor of victims.

Former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, visiting Seoul as the head of Tokyo`s 2020 Olympic organizing committee, met with President Park on the same day and delivered the letter from Abe. ‘Republic of Korea President Park Geun-hye, Cabinet Prime Minister Official Residence’ were written on the white document envelope.

Former Prime Minister Mori said, “Even when I couldn’t meet (with President Park), I have been supporting the President in Tokyo,” as an effort to make amicable atmosphere. “When I visited Korea for the first time in 1970, I met with former President Park Jeong-hee. Even among the retired politicians (in Japan), only a few met with the former President Park,” added Mori. He also expressed his condolence to the victims of Sewol ferry accident.

President Park responded, “I met with you at the inauguration ceremony last year. Today is the second time. I’m well aware that you’ve made great contribution to development of bilateral relations and exchanges between the two nations.” Former Prime Minster Mori is known as a pro-Korea politician, as he had served Japanese Chair of Japan-Korea Parliamentarians` Union from 2001 to 2010. In the afternoon of the same day, President Park and former Japanese Prime Minister also attended together the opening ceremony of Incheon Asian Games.

Reportedly, Japan seeks to hold Korea-Japan summit during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to be held in Beijing, China, in November. As the two summits will attend the UN General Assembly to be convened in New York, the U.S., on Sept. 23 and 24, possibilities cannot be excluded that the two leaders may discuss on the summit meeting while staying in New York. Leaders of Korea, Japan and the U.S. will stay in the same hotel in New York.

President Park will depart Korea on Sep. 20 for state visit to Canada and UN General Assembly. In New York, President Park plans to have separate bilateral talks with leaders from four nations – India, Turkey, Egypt and Uganda. President Park will return Korea in the morning of Sept. 26.