Senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young-chan gives a briefing on the phone conversation between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, at the Chunchugwan press center at Cheong Wa Dae on May 11.

By Lee Hana 

Photos=Jeon Han

President Moon Jae-in received a phone call from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on May 11, in which Abe congratulated him on his inauguration. 

"President Moon held his first phone conversation with his Japanese counterpart today at 2:35 p.m. for 25 minutes," announced senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young-chan during a press briefing held afterward. "The two leaders discussed the future of Korea-Japan relations and the state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula, as well as issues entwined in the countries` shared history," he said. 

"President Moon said that it`s necessary for the two neighbors to make an earnest effort to confront historical disputes, so as to jump over the hurdles and to further develop their cooperative relationship," the secretary said. 

"President Moon, addressing the historical disputes between Korea and Japan, said that he is hopeful that sensitive issues, including the topic of the `comfort women,` can be overcome as our countries develop our relationship. The president said that we should keep in mind that such issues, which affected ordinary citizens, take time to be resolved, even with government support," said the secretary. 

Finally, he said that the two leaders expressed their hopes to meet in person in the near future, and that they look forward to the bilateral meetings between the two countries. 

Senior presidential secretary for public relations Yoon Young-chan gives a briefing about the phone conversation between President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. `The two leaders discussed the future of Korea-Japan relations and the state of affairs on the Korean Peninsula, as well as issues entwined in the countries` shared history,` he said.

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