LDP exec seeks efforts to mend ties with Seoul Korea

December 29, 2017

Beijing- Toshihiro Nikai, secretary-general of the Japanese ruling Liberal Democratic Party, on Friday stressed the need for mutual efforts to mend ties between Tokyo and Seoul.

Referring to South Korea's handling of the issue of so-called comfort women, Nikai, now visiting Beijing, told reporters, "If we're not ready to understand the claims of the other side by giving consideration to its position, it will be difficult for us to engage in diplomacy peacefully with our neighbor."

"Japan and South Korea are indispensable to each other," Nikai said. "Both countries should make efforts to establish good relations."

Regarding the 2015 bilateral accord to resolve the issue of former comfort women in South Korea, who were forced to serve as prostitutes for Japanese troops before and during World War II, a South Korean Foreign Ministry task force released on Wednesday a report that claimed the agreement was imbalanced.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that the 2015 accord does not solve the comfort women issue, arguing that negotiations on the deal were seriously flawed.

On the moves by the South Korean side, Nikai said, "There have always been harsh opinions arising from complicated feelings."

"Things won't work out if you argue against everything," Nikai said, suggesting that the hostility should not be fueled unnecessarily. Jiji Press