1. Mr. Kim Jung-han, Director-General for Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had a meeting with Mr. Shigeki Takizaki, Director-General of the Asian and Oceanian Affairs Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, in Seoul on the afternoon of October 16. During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, including Japan’s export-restrictive measures and the ruling issued by the Supreme Court of the Republic of Korea on the victims of forced labor.

2. Director-General Kim Jung-han once again pointed out the retaliatory nature of Japan’s export-restrictive measures; underscored the need for an immediate withdrawal of the measures; and raised the necessity to strengthen dialogue between the export control authorities as part of the efforts to resolve the issue.

° In response, Director-General Takizaki explained the Japanese government’s position.

° Director-General Kim Jung-han and Director-General Shigeki Takizaki also explained the two countries’ respective positions regarding the ruling on the victims of forced labor.

3. In addition, Director-General Kim Jung-han reminded the Japanese side of the ROK side’s grave concern over the issue of the disposal of treated waste water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and once again asked for the Japanese government’s transparent information-sharing and prudent decision on this issue.

4. The two Directors-General shared the understanding that it is important to continue communication and consultations through diplomatic channels in order to resolve pending issues between the two countries.