1. Director-General for Asian and Pacific Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lee Sangryol, had a meeting with Director-General for Asian and Oceanian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Funakoshi Takehiro, and exchanged views on issues of mutual concern on the afternoon of June 21 in Seoul.

2. Both sides agreed that the stable and future-oriented development of the Korea-Japan relations is important for the peace, stability, and prosperity of Northeast Asia and beyond.

3. Director-General Lee once again explained the Korean government’s position on the issues of Korean forced labor victims during the Japanese colonial rule and “comfort women” victims of the Imperial Japanese Army. He explained that the Korean government listened to opinions of victims and organizations supporting them, and emphasized the need for Japan to show sincerity in solving these issues.

◦  He also conveyed the Korean government’s grave concern on issues such as Japan’s unjustifiable alleged claims to Dokdo, the treatment of contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, and the follow-up measures regarding the inscription of the Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution on the World Heritage List.

◦ On these matters, Director-General Funakoshi explained the Japanese government’s position.

4. The two sides agreed to continue close communication and consultation between the diplomatic authorities on pending bilateral issues, as they had previously agreed.