1. On the occasion of the 2019 Ministerial Council Meeting (MCM) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Minister of Foreign Affairs Kang Kyung-wha, together with Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Taro Kono, held a Republic of Korea-Japan foreign ministerial meeting on May 23. In the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including cooperation toward denuclearization and the establishment of permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula; and the ruling by the ROK Supreme Court regarding victims of forced labor during the Japanese occupation of Korea.

2. The two Ministers made an assessment of the current situation regarding Korean Peninsula issues and agreed to step up coordination between the two countries.

3. Minister Kono explained the Japanese government’s position regarding the ROK Supreme Court’s ruling on victims of forced labor. In response, Minister Kang stressed that given the need for the diplomatic authorities of the two countries to wisely resolve the issue in a bid to prevent it from negatively affecting the overall bilateral relations, the Japanese government, on its part, needs to join efforts to heal the pains and wounds of the victims; and the two governments should maintain close communication between them.

° Minister Kang also underscored to the Japanese side the importance of prudent words and actions regarding this issue.

4. Minister Kono conveyed the Japanese government’s position on the World Trade Organization (WTO)’s decision regarding Japanese seafood. In response, Minister Kang explained the ROK government’s position that it is necessary to respect the WTO’s decision and that the people’s health and safety are the top priority of the ROK government.

5. Minister Kang highlighted the importance of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, and Minister Kono agreed to Minister Kang’s view.