Japanese PM arrives in South Korea on historic visit

First modification: 07/05/2023 – 08:24

Kishida’s plane landed at Seoul’s Seongnam airport on Sunday for the first bilateral visit in more than a decade. The Asian neighbors, both allies of the United States, have been at loggerheads over historical issues tied to the brutal occupation Japanese colonial rule of the Korean peninsula, from 1910 to 1945, which included sexual slavery and forced labor.

But South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol considers restoring ties with Japan a priority and visited Tokyo in March for a first rapprochement. Kishida declared on Sunday, before traveling, that the two rulers would seek to resume reciprocal visit diplomacy, paused for years by a trade dispute linked to forced labor issues.

At their March meeting, Kishida and Yoon agreed to lift their trade restrictions, and Kishida invited the South Korean leader to this month’s G7 summit in Hiroshima. Kishida said that he expects “an honest exchange of views” with Yoon, “based on a relationship of trust.” Kishida will lay a wreath at the Seoul National Cemetery, where South Korean war veterans are buried, and will chat with Yoon on Sunday afternoon.

Yoon will receive his guest at the presidential residence with a dinner, and some local media have said that he could cook for Kishida. Kishida noted on Sunday that the two rulers will have “frank exchanges” on the historical claims between the two countries. About 100 South Koreans protested Saturday against Kishida’s visit.

The attempts to settle their differences come as North Korean leader Kim Jong Un steps up weapons development and testing. In response, the United States and South Korea have increased their defense cooperation, with a series of large military exercises, including two with Japanese participation.