Korea-Japan Holds Bilateral Talks at Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting - Arirang

Posted on MAY 16, 2010   
 
The last day of a three-way meeting, attended by foreign ministers from South Korea, Japan and China, began with a one-on-one between Seoul and Tokyo's top diplomats on Sunday morning in Gyeongju CIty, about 370 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
In the bilateral session between South Korea's Yu Myung-hwan and his Japanese counterpart Katsuya Okada the two officials focused on enhancing ties in line with the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of Korea and discussed regional issues including the recent sinking of a South Korean warship.
[Interview : Kim Young-sun, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson] "The Japanese government lauded South Korea's efforts in investigating the naval incident in a resolute manner even under difficult circumstances and conveyed its wish to closely cooperate with Seoul with regards to the outcome of the Cheonan probe."
 
At the talks the third of its kind this year Japan expressed its strong will to pursue a free trade pact with the South to which the Minister Yu said Seoul will examine the conditions for ratifying the trade deal.
 
While addressing Seoul's concerns over territorial and historical issues including the sovereignty dispute over the Dokdo islets between the two countries Minister Yu called on Tokyo to join the search for the remains of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-guen.
 
The bilateral meeting was followed by a friendly excursion attended by the three ministers in which they toured historic sites in the ancient city of Gyeongju including a Buddhist temple called Bulguksa and Cheonmachong a royal tomb from the Silla dynasty which existed from 57 BC to 935 AD.
 
[Reporter : reporter: Yoo Ji-hae] "Seoul officials say this week's trilateral meeting certainly served as a venue in which the three Asian powers had an opportunity to agree on many grounds in the lead-up to the three-way summit which is slated to be held in South Korea's resort island of Jeju from May 29th to the 30th.
 
Yoo Ji-hae, Arirang News, Gyeongju."