President Moon Jae-in met with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Taro Kono at Cheong Wa Dae for 40 minutes from four o’clock this afternoon. They discussed the latest developments on the Korean Peninsula and the overall aspects of Korea-Japan relations.

President Moon began by welcoming the first visit to Korea by a Japanese Foreign Minister in two years and four months. The President noted the vibrant exchanges of senior-level officials between the two countries, including the Korean Foreign Minister’s visit to Japan last December and Japanese Prime Minister  Shinzo Abe’s attendance at the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in February as well as Foreign Minister Kono’s visit today.

President Moon highlighted the importance for Korea and Japan to closely work together for the sake of peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. He expressed the hope that bilateral cooperation would be increasingly revitalized in a variety of areas, including the economy, trade, society, culture and people-to-people exchanges.

President Moon said that close cooperation between Korea and Japan was all the more important for the success of the upcoming inter-Korean summit and the U.S.-North Korea summit, urging Japan to play a constructive role in realizing the goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and settling permanent peace on it.

After paying tribute to Korea for having so far played a leading role in pushing for the two summits, the visiting Foreign Minister said Japan also looked forward to the success of the summits. He expressed the hope for close cooperation between Korea and Japan as well as among Korea, Japan and the United States for the resolution of the North Korean nuclear issue. 

The Japanese Foreign Minister also said he looked forward to the Korean Government`s cooperation in resolving the issue of Japanese abductees. In reply, President Moon proposed that the two countries work together on a continued basis to resolve pending issues between Japan and North Korea, including the above-mentioned issue, as well as for the improvement of their bilateral relations.

President Moon said the two countries had not reached a settlement in the negotiations on fishing over the past two years and Korean fishermen were suffering a great deal. The President asked for the Japanese Government’s interest and cooperation so that the bilateral negotiations could lead to an agreement as soon as possible. Foreign Minister Kono replied that he would do his best so that the issue on the negotiations could be solved.

Speaking of the trilateral summit among Korea, China and Japan scheduled to be held in Japan next month, President Moon said he appreciated and had shown his support for the Japanese Government’s efforts to hold the summit at the earliest date possible. The President also said the Korean Government would actively cooperate for the success of the summit.