Visiting Japanese reps pledge warmer ties

Korean and Japanese parliamentary members agreed to work to improve relations in a meeting in Seoul on Wednesday. A Japanese parliamentary delegation headed by Fukushiro Nukaga, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and..

Fukushiro Nukaga, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and head of the Japan-Korea parliamentary association, right, greets National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug, left, at the Assembly in western Seoul on Wednesday. [OFFICE OF SPEAKER OF NATIONAL ASSEMBLY]

Korean and Japanese parliamentary members agreed to work to improve relations in a meeting in Seoul on Wednesday.

A Japanese parliamentary delegation headed by Fukushiro Nukaga, a member of the Liberal Democratic Party and head of the Japan-Korea parliamentary association, met with National Assembly Speaker Park Byeong-seug at the Assembly in western Seoul.

“We hope that Korea and Japan will be able to face their history together and develop a future-oriented relationship from there,” Park said, according to his office.

The Yoon Suk-yeol government, which began its first day on Tuesday, has said it wants to improve ties with Japan.

Relations are in a deep freeze over a number of historical issues including compensation for Korean victims of Japanese wartime sexual slavery and forced labor, both of which stem from the 1910-45 Japanese occupation of Korea.

“Both Korea and Japan know fully well each other’s positions [on these issues],” Park said in the meeting. “What we need is resolved will from the leaders to bring both countries to engage on levels deeper than friendly gestures.”

In response, Nukaga stressed that it is important that politics “don’t get in the way of the people,” so they can develop direct people-to-people ties.

Japan recently announced its intention to open its borders to foreign tourists, though only fully vaccinated ones, as early as next month. The country is currently closed to tourists.

The forced labor issue, including court rulings from Korea to liquidate some Japanese companies’ assets to compensate forced laborers, was discussed during the meeting, according to the speaker’s office.

Traveling with Nukaga in the delegation were lawmakers Takeo Kawamura and Seishiro Eto.

From the Korean side, Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Jae-jung joined the meeting.

BY ESTHER CHUNG [chung.juhee@joongang.co.kr]