Japan to allow Korean experts to inspect Fukushima plant

Japan agreed to allow Korean experts to conduct an on-site inspection at the now defunct Fukushima nuclear power plant ahead of the planned release of treated water into the Pacific Ocean, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Sunday.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida during their joint press conference at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Sunday after their bilateral summit. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Japan agreed to allow Korean experts to conduct an on-site inspection at the now defunct Fukushima nuclear power plant ahead of the planned release of treated water into the Pacific Ocean, President Yoon Suk Yeol said after his bilateral summit with the Japanese leader Sunday.

"I hope that meaningful measures will be taken in consideration of our people's call for a science-based, objective inspection," Yoon said in a joint press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul, addressing such worries.

A massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan on March 11, 2011, destroying the Fukushima plant, and Japan decided in 2021 to release the radioactive water stored in tanks at the plant into the ocean, a move neighboring countries and environmental groups have protested.

The Korean inspection team will be dispatched separately from inspections conducted by international experts through the International Atomic Energy Agency.

"My heart aches for the many people who had to work under harsh environments at the time and suffered pain and sadness," Kishida said, explaining this reflects his personal views. He seemed to reference Korean victims of wartime forced labor during the press conference.

Kishida repeated his position that he will inherit the historical awareness of previous cabinets, including the joint declaration of 1998 adopted by Korean President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi. He also stated this position during the bilateral summit on March 16.

In the landmark 1998 declaration, Obuchi acknowledged that Japan had caused "tremendous damage and suffering to the people of the Republic of Korea through its colonial rule" and expressed "deep remorse and heartfelt apology."

Kishida went a step beyond his remarks in March in his remarks in Seoul on Sunday, but stopped short of explicitly expressing an apology or remorse. This came as Koreans had anticipated Japan would take corresponding measures to Seoul's efforts to resolve the forced labor issue.

Noting there are many historical issues between the two countries, Kishida added, "I believe it is my duty as Japan's prime minister to cooperate with President Yoon and the Korean side for our future by inheriting the efforts of our ancestors who have overcome difficult times."

Kishida added that the "position of the government will not be shaken in the future."

Their reunion came just 52 days after Yoon's trip to Tokyo for a bilateral summit on March 16 and a resumption of so-called "shuttle diplomacy" between the two countries' leaders after 12 years.

Kishida's visit to Seoul reciprocates Yoon's Tokyo trip, a step towards normalizing bilateral relations which deteriorated in recent years due to historical disputes stemming from Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule and a trade spat.

Yoon also left open the possibility that South Korea, the United States and Japan may establish a three-way nuclear consultative body on extended deterrence in light of the North's nuclear and missile threats.

Kishida's trip comes on the heels of Yoon's state visit to the United States in late April for a bilateral summit with U.S. President Joe Biden.

During the summit at the White House on April 26, Yoon and Biden adopted the Washington Declaration, committing to strengthening extended deterrence and creating a NATO-inspired bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group.

Yoon during the press conference Sunday said that the Washington Declaration "doesn't exclude Japan's participation" as bilateral negotiations and implementation measure are still under discussion.

They also shared the view that North Korea's nuclear and missile development "is a grave threat not only to the Korean Peninsula and Japan, but to the peace and stability across the globe."

Yoon and Kishida also confirmed that procedures for restoring Korea to Japan's "white list" of preferential trading partners are being "steadily implemented."

The two sides also agreed to strengthen semiconductor supply chains as a part of measures to bolster economic security cooperation.

In late 2018, the Korean Supreme Court ordered Japanese companies to individually compensate the victims of forced labor during World War II. Japan imposed export restrictions on three key materials essential to Korea's semiconductor and display production in 2019, widely seen as retaliation for the forced labor rulings. Tokyo also removed Korea from its so-called "white list" of trusted trading partners, a move returned by Seoul.

In early March, the Yoon government announced a plan to compensate victims of Japan's wartime forced labor through a Korea-backed public foundation, without set contributions from Japanese companies, a move protested by some victims and civic groups. This led way to the consecutive bilateral summits and thawing of bilateral relations.

Kishida's trip to Seoul comes ahead of the Group of 7 (G7) summit in Hiroshima later this month, to which Yoon has been invited to attend by the host country, Japan. Yoon, Kishida and Biden are expected to hold a trilateral summit on the sidelines of the gathering.

Yoon and Kishida will also make a visit to Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and pay respects to the Korean victims of the U.S. atomic bombing.

When asked about a meaningful response by Japan over the forced labor issue, Yoon replied, "I think it's important to do things with sincerity, and it's not something that can be demanded from the other side."

The issue of lifting Korea's ban on exports of Japanese seafood from the Fukushima area was not discussed, according to a senior presidential official in a press briefing after the summit.

Around noon Sunday, the Japanese prime minister and first lady Yuko Kishida arrived at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam, Gyeonggi, for a working visit. They were greeted by officials including First Vice Foreign Minister Chang Ho-jin and Korean Ambassador to Japan Yun Duk-min.

Kishida and his first lady immediately paid respects at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, where Korean patriots including independence fighters and Korean War veterans are commemorated. This marked the first such trip to the cemetery since Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda last made a bilateral visit to Seoul in October 2011 to meet with President Lee Myung-bak.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, center right, and first lady Kim Keon-hee, wave with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, center left, and first lady Yuko Kishida in a welcoming ceremony at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Sunday ahead of their bilateral summit. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Yoon and first lady Kim Keon-hee received Kishida and his wife in a welcoming ceremony at the Yongsan presidential office later Sunday afternoon.

Yoon and Kishida began their bilateral summit, which included smaller group talks followed by an expanded meeting. The talks were an occasion to discuss issues including security matters, economic cooperation in areas such as high-tech industries and science and technology, and youth and cultural exchanges.

"Amid the current grave international situation and complex global crises, cooperation between Korea and Japan is essential not only for the common interests of both countries, but also for world peace and prosperity," said Yoon at the beginning of the expanded meeting. "Korea and Japan, who share universal values, must work together with stronger solidarity with the international community in a situation where liberal democracy, which has been the foundation of peace and prosperity, is under threat."

He also repeated the position he shared during his address at Harvard University on April 28 that he would like to "move away from the perception that we cannot take a single step toward future cooperation" unless past historical issues are completely settled.

"It took 12 years to restore shuttle diplomacy, but it took less than two months for the two of us to go back and forth," said Yoon. "I think this confirms that Korea-Japan relations, which have started anew, are moving forward with speed."

Kishida said in response that he is "delighted to be able to start full-fledged shuttle diplomacy" by visiting Seoul at an early date, thanking the Koreans and Yoon for their "warm hospitality."

He noted that in less than two months, various conversations are "moving along dynamically" and that he hoped to discuss with Yoon the latest situation in the Indo-Pacific region, including North Korea, and cooperation on global issues, keeping in mind the G7 summit in Hiroshima.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, chats with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, in front of U.S. President Joe Biden’s gift of baseball memorabilia from Yoon’s state visit in late April at the Yongsan presidential office in central Seoul Sunday during their bilateral summit. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

In the evening, Yoon and the first lady hosted a dinner at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong for the Japanese prime minister and his wife.

The dinner menu included traditional Korean dishes including gujeolpan (nine different ingredients assorted on an octagon-shape wooden plate), hanwoo galbijjim (Korean braised beef ribs), bulgogi and naengmyeon (cold noodles), according to the presidential office.

Yoon last hosted Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at his new presidential residence last November.

Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee, left, have dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and first lady Yuko Kishida, right, at the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul Sunday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]