Japan-South Korea Foreign Ministers' Meeting Held... "Serious Discussions''

South Korea's Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Jin of South Korea held a meeting with Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on the occasion of his attendance at the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Foreign Ministers' Meeting on the 4th. Minister Park Jin expressed his strong will to improve relations between Japan and South Korea by President Yoon Seo-gyul.

According to South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Park Jin met with Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi for about 30 minutes on the occasion of attending the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting held at the Sokha Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia that afternoon. It is thought that pending issues of both countries were discussed, including the issue of compensation for victims of forced labor during the Japanese colonial period.

After the talks ended, Minister Park Jin met with reporters and said, "Although it was a short, we had a serious exchange of views on how to face up to the past between the two countries and develop future-oriented relations." he said, adding, "We agreed to accelerate talks between the two countries in the future."

Given the serious situation on the Korean Peninsula, we agreed to continue trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea, and the United States," he said, adding, "Japan and South Korea's cooperation is even more important in promoting relations with ASEAN."