1. During the visit by Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Choi Jong Kun to Washington D.C. on the occasion of the 9th ROK-U.S.-Japan Vice Foreign Ministerial Meeting, he had a meeting with Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan Mori Takeo on the afternoon of November 17 (local time).

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2. This marked the first high-level talks between the two countries since the launch of a new cabinet of Japan on November 10. The two Vice Ministers exchanged views on key bilateral issues and matters of mutual interest.

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° Vice Minister Choi explained the Korean government’s position on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the victims of forced labor; the issue of “comfort women” victims; and the government’s efforts to communicate with the victims. He also reaffirmed the need to speed up the diplomatic consultations to resolve pending issues.

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° Vice Minister Choi conveyed the Korean government’s position on the export-restrictive measures imposed by Japan and the Japanese government’s decision to release contaminated water from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station into the ocean.

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° Vice Minister Mori conveyed the Japanese government’s position.

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° The Vice Ministers also exchanged views on trilateral cooperation among the ROK, the U.S., and Japan; measures to assist people under COVID-19 restrictions; and on the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

° Vice Minister Choi made it clear that the Japanese government’s claim on Dokdo delivered by Vice Minister Mori was totally unacceptable.

3. The Vice Ministers agreed to continue close diplomatic communication for the future-oriented development of the ROK-Japan relations.