Japan, S.Korea to closely cooperate in responding to N.Korea

The foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea have agreed to closely cooperate to address issues of North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa spoke with his South Korean counterpart Chung Eui-yong by phone for about 35 minutes on Thursday. Japan had requested the talks.

Hayashi and Chung shared serious concerns about North Korea’s nuclear and missile development following its series of missile launches.

The two agreed that the issues threaten the peace and stability of the region and the international community.

They reaffirmed that the two countries will closely cooperate on addressing the issues in not only their bilateral framework but also a trilateral one including the United States.

The talks came after Japan’s government recommended to UNESCO that a group of primarily gold mines on Sado Island in the Sea of ​​Japan be registered as a World Cultural Heritage site.

Chung lodged a protest against the move, insisting that Koreans were forced to work at the mines on the island in Niigata Prefecture during World War Two.

Hayashi said Japan cannot accept South Korea’s claim, which he called regrettable, groundless and based only on the country’s own story.

Hayashi said he intends to discuss the matter with the South Korean side calmly and politely to have the mines registered as a World Cultural Heritage site.

South Korea’s foreign ministry said Chung expressed deep disappointment with Japan’s decision and lodged a protest during the talks.

The ministry said Chung pointed out that correct historical awareness is the basis for future-oriented development of the bilateral relations.

He reportedly added that he was deeply disappointed with Japan’s decision, saying it ignores the painful history of what he called Korean forced labor.