Wednesday, August 12, 2015

FM Yun calls on Abe to uphold predecessors’ apologies


koreaobserver.com

By Lee Haye-ah

Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (R) and Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koro Bessho exchange greetings at the opening ceremony of the Center for Japanese Studies in southern Seoul on Aug. 12, 2015. (Yonhap)

Image from article, with caption: Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se (R) and Japanese Ambassador to Seoul Koro Bessho exchange greetings at the opening ceremony of the Center for Japanese Studies in southern Seoul on Aug. 12, 2015. (Yonhap)
Extract
SEOUL, Aug. 12 (Yonhap) — Foreign Minister Yun Byung-se called on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Wednesday to clearly uphold his predecessors’ apologies for Japan’s colonial rule of Korea, saying his war anniversary statement this week will be a “touchstone” of bilateral ties.
Abe is expected to issue a statement Friday marking the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, which coincides with Korea’s liberation from 35 years of Japanese colonial rule.
Amid strained ties caused by various disputes over their shared history, the statement has been cited as one of several factors their relations will hinge on.
 “The Abe statement will be a touchstone for the improvement of bilateral ties going forward at a historical point in time marking 70 years since the end of the war and 50 years since the normalization of relations between South Korea and Japan,” Yun said in his congratulatory remarks in the opening ceremony of the Center for Japanese Studies in southern Seoul. ...  
The new institute, established under the Foreign Ministry’s Korea National Diplomatic Academy, is tasked with assisting the ministry’s work with Japan through policy research, strengthening ties with similar institutes at home and abroad and carrying out public diplomacy related to Japan.

No comments: