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| Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap |
Foreign minister to make trip to China soon
By Kang Seung-woo
Foreign Minister Park Jin expressed the government's intent, Monday, to repair relations with Japan as Seoul's efforts to find a breakthrough in frayed ties with Tokyo could be dampened by the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who was shot and killed at a campaign event in Nara, Friday.
He also said the new South Korean government's policy toward China was not blindly based on the U.S.-led move to contain Beijing, and added that bilateral ties should develop based on an equal partnership.
"As you might know, the Yoon Suk-yeol administration is seeking to improve ties with Japan as soon as possible, so if [Abe's] memorial service is set, our high-ranking delegation will be sent there to convey the president's respects," Park said during a press conference at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul.
According to the presidential office, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo and Deputy National Assembly Speaker Rep. Chung Jin-suk will be part of the government's condolence delegation to Tokyo.
The foreign minister also visited the Japanese embassy's public information and cultural center in downtown Seoul to pay his respects to Abe earlier in the day.
Along with the planned trip by the government delegation, the foreign minister himself had been pursuing a visit to Japan for a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Yoshimasa Hayashi. But Park said his envisaged trip to Japan should be pushed back due to Abe's assassination.
"We were in talks over my trip to Japan, but the shocking death of the former Japanese prime minister happened," Park said.
"However, we are poised to continue discussing the issue," he added.
The decision comes as the new South Korean government is calling for a future-oriented approach to bilateral ties, which have slumped to their worst level in years over historical and territorial issues.
Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party triumphed in Upper House elections, Sunday, partly due to the assassination of Abe, which was believed to have helped rally conservative voters.
In response to the outcome of the election, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hinted that he will pursue a revision of the country's pacifist constitution, which outlaws war as a means to settle disputes and the retention of armed forces for war.
However, the foreign minister refrained from commenting on the issue, just saying that the government will keep close tabs on how the Japanese government will move in terms of the constitutional reform.
As for ties with China, Park reiterated the government's stance that its relations with Beijing should be based on mutual respect and trust, heralding a shift from Seoul's previous position on the country.
Park's remarks are seen as the Yoon administration's decision to side with the United States amid an escalating U.S.-Sino rivalry, as evidenced by his participation in the NATO Summit in Spain earlier this month, whose focus was on anti-China and anti-Russia policies.
However, Park said the government's stance had nothing to do with anti-China propaganda.
"Bilateral ties will develop further if China respects us and we understand its position," Park said.
To this end, Park said he will try to visit China soon, reciprocated by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's return visit in the second half of this year. In addition, the government will strengthen its communication with the country at every level, according to the foreign minister, in order to improve bilateral relations for the next 30 years.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Park said the South Korean government will seek cooperation with neighboring countries to effectively deal with North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats.
"In order to bring North Korea back to the negotiating table, we are seeking dialogue with China and Russia as well as the U.S.," Park said.
"In addition, if talks between South Korea and Japan are activated, the two sides could hold in-depth discussions on the North Korea issue, and also through trilateral meetings including the U.S."
