# South Korea seeks to kickstart talks to resolve historical feuds with Japan
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-07-15
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: South Korea-Japan High-Level Visit to Kickstart Talks
Meta Description: South Korea aims to jumpstart negotiations with Tokyo despite worries about the impact of Shinzo Abe's passing. Read more on Reuters about the tensions
URL: https://financedigest.com/south-korea-seeks-to-kickstart-talks-to-resolve-historical-feuds-with-japanhtml

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By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea hopes a high-level visit to Tokyo next week will kickstart talks aimed at a breakthrough in historical disputes despite concerns the death of former Japanese premier Shinzo Abe could change Japan’s policy priorities, Seoul officials said.

Relations between the two North Asian U.S. allies have been strained over disputes dating to Japan’s 1910-1945 occupation of Korea. Washington has been pressing Tokyo and Seoul to mend fences in the face of the North Korean nuclear threat and the [rising influence of China](https://www.financedigest.com/dollar-slips-after-upbeat-china-data-euro-pound-rise.html "Dollar slips after upbeat China data; euro, pound rise").

Officials in the administration of South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who took [office in May vowing to improve ties with Japan](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-uk-to-sign-reciprocal-access-agreement-for-military-officers-yomiuri.html "Japan, UK to sign reciprocal access agreement for military officers -Yomiuri"), told Reuters they feel emboldened by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida’s election victory which could give him more scope to advance his policy agenda for another three years.

[Foreign Minister Park Jin will visit Japan on July](https://www.financedigest.com/foreign-tourism-to-portugal-surpasses-pre-covid-levels-in-july.html "Foreign tourism to Portugal surpasses pre-COVID levels in July") 18-20, the ministry said, a trip which a senior official handling Japan policy said is aimed at “turning on the tap” for serious negotiations on issues relating to forced labour, which stalled under Yoon’s predecessor.

Park will [meet his Japanese counterpart Yoshimasa Hayashi and discuss](https://www.financedigest.com/new-zealand-pm-meets-biden-to-discuss-u-s-indo-pacific-strategy.html "New Zealand PM meets Biden to discuss U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy") relations between the two countries and issues on the Korean Peninsula, the South Korean ministry said. Park will also [pay respects](https://www.financedigest.com/some-russians-mourn-queen-elizabeth-with-flowers-as-kremlin-pays-respects.html "Some Russians mourn Queen Elizabeth with flowers as Kremlin pays respects") to Abe.

Another South Korean official said Yoon would send a high-level delegation led by the prime [minister when Japan holds a public](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-will-not-urge-public-to-cut-energy-use-minister-says.html "UK will not urge public to cut energy use, minister says") memorial service for Abe, who was shot and killed last week while on the campaign trail.

Yoon would also likely use his Aug. 15 Liberation [Day speech marking](https://www.financedigest.com/tall-marks-its-25th-year-with-celebration-day.html "TALL Marks its 25th Year with Celebration Day ") Korea’s independence from Japan as a chance to send a reconciliatory message to Tokyo, the official added.

What we’re trying to do is to [open the door](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-electric-vans-opens-door-for-chinese-other-ev-makers.html "Lack of electric vans opens door for Chinese, other EV makers") for real talks,” the senior official said.

The assassination of Abe, who was a defining leader in Japanese politics and a divisive figure in Korea, has raised new doubts about the outlook for relations with [South Korea](https://www.financedigest.com/south-korea-has-not-supplied-lethal-weapons-to-ukraine-president-says.html "South Korea has not supplied lethal weapons to Ukraine, president says"), where bitter wartime memories run deep.

Some analysts [say Korea might be put](https://www.financedigest.com/south-african-citrus-growers-say-eu-pest-rules-putting-squeeze-on-exports.html "South African citrus growers say EU pest rules putting squeeze on exports") on the back burner while Kishida presses to achieve Abe’s unrealised dreams, including constitutional reform aimed at allowing Japanese troops to fight overseas.

But some Korean officials see [Japan as more willing to talk](https://www.financedigest.com/japan-insurers-in-talks-with-reinsurers-to-resume-coverage-in-russian-waters.html "Japan insurers in talks with reinsurers to resume coverage in Russian waters") now, with pressure by U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration also [playing a potential role](https://www.financedigest.com/why-the-bank-branch-still-has-a-role-to-play-for-consumers.html "Why the bank branch still has a role to play for consumers").

We [see great potential in stronger](https://www.financedigest.com/inpost-sees-stronger-2022-but-warns-of-slowing-demand.html "InPost sees stronger 2022 but warns of slowing demand") trilateral relationships,” Derek Chollet, Counsellor of the U.S. State Department, told Reuters this week.

COOPERATION ‘INEVITABLE’

Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, said on Friday that cooperation with Seoul and Washington was “inevitable” for responding to North Korea’s threat and other regional issues.

Although relations between Japan and [South Korea](https://www.financedigest.com/ukraine-asks-for-south-korea-cybersecurity-aid-amid-russia-invasion.html "Ukraine asks for South Korea cybersecurity aid amid Russia invasion") are in a very severe state … we don’t think it can be left as it is,” he told a news conference, adding Tokyo would [work together to resolve history issues](https://www.financedigest.com/voice-quality-matters-quarter-of-employees-working-from-home-still-experiencing-regular-connectivity-issues.html "Voice Quality Matters: Quarter of Employees Working From Home Still Experiencing Regular Connectivity Issues") and restore ties.

Yoon and Kishida met [Biden on the sidelines of last month’s NATO summit](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-sunak-plans-to-meet-biden-in-g20-summit.html "UK’s Sunak plans to meet Biden in G20 summit") for their first trilateral talks, and Chollet said Washington stands ready to facilitate strong ties between its two allies.

At home, the Yoon government is gathering opinions from victims of forced labour, lawyers and [experts via a newly launched](https://www.financedigest.com/mobey-forum-launches-digital-id-expert-group.html "Mobey Forum Launches Digital ID Expert Group") public-private panel, which held its second hearing on Thursday.

At stake are South Korean [court orders for a seizure of assets of Japanese companies](https://www.financedigest.com/finance-industry-one-court-case-away-claims-management-company-onslaught-quadient-warns.html "Finance Industry Is “One Court Case Away” from Claims Management Company Onslaught, Quadient Warns") accused of not compensating some of their colonial-era labourers. Tokyo has warned of serious repercussions if the [orders are enforced](https://www.financedigest.com/president-trump-signs-executive-orders-on-trade-and-designates-trade-and-customs-law-violations-as-law-enforcement-high-priority.html "President Trump Signs Executive Orders on Trade and Designates Trade and Customs Law Violations as Law Enforcement “High Priority”").

The first official said the Yoon administration was seeking a “realistic, feasible [proposal” that can win consent from both victims and the Japanese government](https://www.financedigest.com/carrefour-unveils-30-euro-shopping-basket-in-spain-after-government-price-cut-proposal.html "Carrefour unveils 30 euro shopping basket in Spain after government price cut proposal").

A third official was more cautious, [saying the compensation issue should be resolved](https://www.financedigest.com/apple-says-issues-with-imessage-facetime-resolved35792.html "Apple says issues with iMessage, FaceTime resolved") alongside trade and other rows, which could make a compromise more difficult.

Yuko Nakano, a fellow at the U.S.-based Center for Strategic and [International Studies](https://www.financedigest.com/most-sales-and-marketing-teams-struggle-to-activate-data-in-their-organisation-according-to-new-international-study.html "Most Sales and Marketing teams struggle to activate data in their organisation, according to new international study"), said any compromise would require patience and commitment from both Yoon and Kishida.

“High-level visits and meetings often attract attention, but equally important is to continue building on efforts that are happening below the surface,” she said.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Additional reporting by Joyce Lee; Editing by Josh Smith, Lincoln Feast and Alison Williams)


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