Japan's new FM Hayashi emphasises need to improve strained ties with South Korea: Report

On Thursday, Yoshimasa Hayashi, Japan's new foreign minister, highlighted the importance of mending strained ties with South Korea and stepping up regional security cooperation. Meanwhile, he also urged Seoul to give acceptable solutions to the country's long-running historical disputes, reported the Yonhap news agency. Hayashi, a veteran politician with extensive Cabinet experience, described South Korea as Japan's "vital neighbour" and stated that the strained bilateral relations should not be allowed to continue anymore.

On Wednesday, November 10, during his first press conference since taking charge as the country's foreign minister, Hayashi remarked that he intends to increase consultations and dialogue through diplomatic channels to collaborate in numerous sectors after restoring South Korea-Japan ties to healthy relations. According to him, trilateral security cooperation between Tokyo, Seoul, and Washington is critical in dealing with North Korea's mounting threat and enhancing regional stability. He said that cooperation between Japan, the United States, and South Korea is imperative in order to coordinate responses to North Korea and improve regional stability.

Japan asks South Korea to offer solutions to ongoing disputes

However, Hayashi also reaffirmed Tokyo's previous position that Seoul should propose remedies to issues related to forced labour and comfort women, which are major subjects of dispute. "I will strongly urge South Korea to offer solutions that Japan can accept as soon as possible," he was quoted as saying by the news agency. It should be mentioned here that relations between the two countries have remained volatile since Tokyo put export restrictions on Seoul in 2019, ostensibly in retaliation for South Korean court verdicts on victims of forced labour and sexual slavery.

According to Japan, all reparation issues stemming from Japan's colonisation of Korea from 1910 to 1945 were resolved under a 1965 treaty that normalised relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, November 10, South Korean Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong addressed a letter to his new Japanese counterpart in which he suggested concerted measures to bolster bilateral ties, reported the news agency citing a South Korean official.

Fumio Kishida re-elected as Japan's Prime Minister

It is worth mentioning here that On Wednesday, 10 November Fumio Kishida was re-elected as Japan's Prime Minister after his ruling party won a huge victory in crucial legislative elections. Kishida, who was elected by parliament a little over a month ago, called a snap election in which his ruling party won 261 seats in the 465-member lower house, reported The Associated Press.

Image: AP