South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi held a joint press conference on the 13th at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Minister Cho announced that the two countries’ foreign ministers, despite the uncertainties like South Korea’s martial law, the political situation regarding impeachment, and the launch of the Trump administration in the U.S., are committed to steadily developing Korea-Japan relations under any circumstances.
After the meeting, Minister Cho expressed that they were clear about maintaining the positive momentum in Korea-Japan relations. It was the first meeting between the foreign ministers of Korea and Japan since President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law. This marked the first joint press conference between the two countries’ foreign ministers in ten years, following the announcement of the Comfort Women Agreement by then-Minister Yoon Byung-se and Fumio Kishida in December 2015.
During the meeting, Minister Cho discussed the issue of the Sado Mines memorial service, which faced setbacks due to visits by Japanese government representatives to the Yasukuni Shrine. He emphasized that they had agreed to honestly consult each other to ensure the event sincerely commemorates the victims and remembers its historical significance. He added that the Japanese government affirmed its stance of inheriting the positions of previous administrations, like the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration, which includes a heartfelt reflection and apology for past issues.
Foreign Minister Iwaya stated that Japan continues to share the historical perceptions of past administrations and would maintain communication with the South Korean government in accordance with the resolutions of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee.
Iwaya also mentioned his plans to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration on the 20th, emphasizing the importance of the trilateral cooperation between Japan, South Korea, and the U.S. The two ministers agreed on the need to enhance youth exchange programs in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of normalizing diplomatic relations between Korea and Japan and reviewed the commemorative projects in progress.
Upon his arrival in Seoul, Iwaya visited the Seoul National Cemetery, marking the first visit by a Japanese foreign minister since April 2018. He is scheduled to meet Acting President and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Choe Sang-mok on the 14th. A diplomatic source remarked that this occasion serves as a demonstration to both domestic and international audiences that Korea-Japan diplomacy is functioning smoothly despite the absence of high-level diplomatic engagements.