KYODO NEWS


 

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya and his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae Yul reaffirmed the importance of advancing bilateral relations in their meeting on Monday, amid prolonged political uncertainty in Seoul following last month's impeachment of President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Iwaya told a joint press conference with Cho after the meeting in Seoul that they also agreed to maintain close trilateral collaboration with the United States to address the military threat posed by North Korea.

The talks were held during the first visit to South Korea by a Japanese minister since Yoon's impeachment, coming just ahead of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration next Monday.

"The importance of the bilateral ties remains unchanged under the current strategic environment," Iwaya said.

Cho said that South Korea will move forward its relationship with Japan "regardless of any circumstance," adding that Seoul's basic diplomatic policy toward Tokyo "will remain unwavering in the future."

Yoon's presidential duties were suspended after the parliament passed an impeachment motion over his brief imposition of martial law in early December.

It is uncertain whether the two countries will be able to maintain the same level of cooperation achieved under Yoon, as the president may be removed from office by the Constitutional Court, which has 180 days of the National Assembly's Dec. 14 vote in favor of the impeachment motion to decide on the matter.

Iwaya refrained from expressing his view on the current South Korean domestic situation but said that the two nations are "important neighbors that must continue to work together as partners in addressing various challenges in the international community."

Cho said they also shared "strong concerns over North Korea's development of nuclear weapons and missiles, its provocations and its illegal military cooperation with Russia, including the dispatch of North Korean troops," amid the ongoing Russian war in Ukraine.

Marking the 60th anniversary of normalization this year, Japan-South Korea relations have improved since Yoon became president in 2022, with he and then Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida resuming the practice of "shuttle diplomacy," or regular mutual visits by leaders, the following year.

The two ministers confirmed that their governments will support projects to commemorate the anniversary, Iwaya said.

Japan and South Korea have stepped up cooperation with the United States under President Joe Biden's administration to better address the threats posed by North Korea's missile and nuclear programs.

But concerns are growing over the future of the three-way partnership due to Trump's skepticism of multilateralism under his "America First" doctrine.
Iwaya has said he will attend Trump's inauguration ceremony and explore a meeting with Sen. Marco Rubio, who has been nominated for secretary of state and is awaiting Senate confirmation.

"I hope to build a relationship of trust and align our understanding on the importance of Japan-U.S. and trilateral Japan-U.S.-Korea cooperation" through the envisaged talks with Rubio, Iwaya said.

As for wartime history issues that have repeatedly soured Japan-South Korea ties, Iwaya said Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba's government, launched in October, takes over past Japanese administrations' stance. Cho called on Japan to tackle the issues "sincerely."

The last South Korea visit by a Japanese foreign minister was in November 2023 by Yoko Kamikawa, who attended a gathering in Busan with her South Korean and Chinese counterparts.

Iwaya and Cho shared their hope to hold a foreign ministerial meeting with China "at an early and appropriate time." Japan will chair the next meeting.
Iwaya is on a four-day overseas trip through Thursday that also includes visits to the Philippines and Palau.