The countries also have competing claims to the Takeshima-Dokdo islands, which are administered by South Korea. During a visit to South Korea this month, Kishida said his “heart aches” for the “terrible suffering and grief” endured by Koreans during Japanese colonial rule – a comment Yoon said had “touched the heart of South Koreans”. Yoon praised Kishida for his “sincere determination” to improve ties at the start of their talks in Hiroshima on Sunday – the third time they have met in two months. “This will be remembered as a courageous action by prime minister Kishida that paves the way for a peaceful future while expressing grief for the Korean victims of the atomic bombing,” Yoon said after the memorial visit. Kishida said the visit to the Korean A-bomb memorial was “extremely important for Japan-South Korea relations and for us to pray for world peace”.

Source: The Guardian May 22, 2023 02:16 UTC