Japan, S. Korean Foreign Chiefs to Meet on Tuesday

December 17, 2017

Seoul- South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha will visit Japan for two days from Tuesday for talks with her Japanese counterpart, Taro Kono, the two countries' foreign ministries said Sunday.

At the meeting, slated for Tuesday afternoon, Kono and Kang are expected to reaffirm the two countries' close cooperation in dealing with North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs. The two ministers are also seen talking about Japan-South Korea relations and other issues.

Kang's Japan visit will be the first since she took office in June. She will be the first South Korean foreign minister to visit Japan since her predecessor, Yun Byung-se, made a trip to the country in August 2016.

South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported that Kang is highly likely to pay a courtesy call on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during her upcoming trip.

North Korea test-fired a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile on Nov. 29 and declared the completion of its nuclear forces.

Sharing the view that the North Korean moves are a serious challenge to the international community, Kono and Kang are expected to confirm the policy of imposing stronger sanctions and pressure on Pyongyang in order to prevent the reclusive country from taking further provocative actions and prompt it to accept dialogue toward its denuclearization, informed sources said.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry may release by year-end the outcome of its examination of the negotiation process for the Japan-South Korea agreement in December 2015 for resolving the issue of so-called comfort women, mainly Koreans, who were allegedly forced into prostitution for Japanese troops before and during World War II.

Kang may give an explanation about the result of the examination to the Japanese side, according to the sources.

Meanwhile, Kono is expected to ask Seoul to steadily implement the agreement, the sources said. Jiji Press