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South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol said, “It is unacceptable to say, ‘Unconditionally no,’ or ‘Kneel unconditionally,’ about what happened 100 years ago.” In an interview with the Washington Post (WP) published on the 24th, President Yoon said, “Even though Europe has experienced a brutal war, the warring countries are cooperating for the future.” Addressing North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats to the United States with issues such as “documentation of the South Korean nuclear umbrella” and “expansion of information sharing between South Korea and the United States,” he once again emphasized the inevitability of South Korea-Japan cooperation. I did. President Yoon arrived in Washington, D.C. in the early morning of the 25th Japan time (afternoon of the 24th local time) and started his state visit to the United States for 7 days and 5 nights until the 30th.

President Yoon reportedly explained his decision to Japan in detail in a preliminary interview with WP lasting about 90 minutes. “It’s a decision that needs to be made,” he said. He said that South Korea’s security concerns were too urgent to postpone cooperation with the Japanese government, and that critics could not be convinced.

This means that the geopolitical situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula and unprecedented provocations by North Korea could not delay the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations any further. In a separate media announcement, the president’s office said, “It is something that must be done in light of the spirit of liberal democracy in the Korean constitution.” It can be resolved through communication.” In particular, in relation to President Yoon’s reference to “100 years ago,” he explained, “This kind of approach will not be useful for the future of Korea-Japan relations.”

The president’s office also said, “The normalization of South Korea-Japan relations is something that must be done and cannot be delayed.” , the improvement of South Korea-Japan relations is the path that must be taken toward the future.” In 1998, when the Kim Dae-jung-Obuchi Declaration was issued, former President Kim Dae-jung delivered a speech to the Japanese parliament, saying, “For an unfortunate history of less than 50 years, the entire history of exchanges and cooperation spanning 1,500 years. It is foolish to make it meaningless,” he added.

However, the opposition parties all at once criticized President Yoon’s remarks about what happened 100 years ago. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said, “As the president of the Republic of Korea, which has been invaded by Japan for decades, this is a remark that I should never say.” It’s an encouraging statement,” he said. Rep. Park Yong-jin said, “It’s not enough to criticize the Japanese prime minister for making reckless remarks.”

In an interview with WP, President Yoon said, “Ukraine has been illegally aggressed, so we should provide various kinds of assistance.” We have no choice but to consider various direct and indirect relationships between (the parties) countries.” This is interpreted as a more cautious stance on the issue of aid to Ukraine in light of Russia’s objection that it is “intervening in the war.” In an interview with Reuters on the 19th, President Yoon said, “In the event of a large-scale attack on civilians, a genocide that cannot be overlooked by the international community, or a serious violation of the laws of war, we will provide humanitarian and financial assistance. Sometimes it’s hard to stick to just one,” he said.

President Yoon: “I can’t say that I will unconditionally kneel to Japan because it happened 100 years ago.” (2)