1. Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Choi Jong Kun met with newly appointed Ambassador of Japan to Korea Aiboshi Koichi on February 26 and exchanged views on the overall Korea-Japan relations and issues regarding bilateral cooperation, among others.

2. Vice Minister Choi extended congratulations to Ambassador Aiboshi, who has had work experience in Korea and great interest in Korean culture, on taking up the post.

3. Vice Minister Choi, saying that the more difficult the relations between the two countries, the more important smooth communication between their diplomatic authorities, suggested continuing close communication.

° Ambassador Aiboshi mentioned that he will make efforts to contribute to restoring people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between the two countries during his tenure, as the COVID-19 situation stabilizes.

4. In response to Ambassador Aiboshi’s explanation of the position of the Japanese government regarding the rulings on forced labor and on the civil action filed by “comfort women” victims, Vice Minister Choi explained the Korean government’s position.

° In particular, the Vice Minister, mentioning that it is important to steadily resolve diverse bilateral issues without linking them, proposed expanding future-oriented cooperation based on a two-track approach.