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Following President Park Geun-hye's positive response to comments made by Japansese Prime
Minister Shinzo Abe that Tokyo would uphold its landmark apology for wartime *** enslavement,...
speculation has been brewing over a possible meeting between the two nations' leaders.
But as our Choi You-sun tells us, Seoul wants sincere actions, not just words to improve
ties. With speculation rife over President Park
Geun-hye meeting her Japanese counterpart at next week's Nuclear Security Summit in
the Netherlands, Seoul says there's no reason to oppose a sincere and constructive dialogue
with Tokyo. Korean presidential spokesperson Min Kyung-wook
told reporters Monday what's important is whether any talks can bring out a productive
outcome, not having talks for talks' sake. The spokesperson said to create an atmosphere
for productive discussions, Japan will have to promptly take concrete steps to resolve
its colonial-era and other historical issues with neighboring nations.
On Saturday, President Park welcomed Prime Minister Abe's affirmation the day before,
that he had no plan to revise a 1993 apology for wartime *** enslavement by the Japanese
military. This..., after Abe's chief spokesperson last
month said a special team will review victims' testimonies gathered for the apology known
as the Kono Statement. Although it was the first time the Korean
leader positively assessed Abe's comment on historic issues, the concensus at the presidential
office seems to be that Tokyo would first need to prove its sincerity.
The Abe cabinet still intends to review how the Kono apology was made, and denies women
were forced to serve as military prostitutes. There, however, is a greater possibility for
a three-way dialogue with Washington in the Hague.
Ahead of U.S. President Barack Obama's visits to Seoul and Tokyo next month, Washington
has reportedly been pressuring both Seoul and Tokyo to improve their strained ties.
The United States wants strong trilateral ties with both its Northeast Asian allies
to ensure regional stability and cope with potential security threats from China.
Choi You-sun, Arirang News.